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FIGHT BACK

Rebel candidates

by Jeff Goodall

October 20, 2003

It seems to me that the electorate is not satisfied with the political fare being offered up by the various parties and candidates these days. Neither Mel Lastman nor Jean Chretien would ever dare run again, their massive egos notwithstanding. Dalton McGuinty was not elected in Ontario, so much as Common Sense Revolution turncoat Ernie Eves was thrown out for his flip-flops and inconsistencies, and for the doubts he created as to what he really stood for.

The Alliance and Progressive Conservatives have now reached agreement in principle to create an entirely new party, in order to provide a realistic alternative to the Liberals. If the members of both parties vote in favour of a merger, and if a leader of the calibre of Mike Harris can be found, then I expect that in the next federal election the voters will proceed to dump the Grits, Paul Martin notwithstanding. If the new conservatives can take Ontario, then that and the West will be sufficient to overcome the Quebec tribal vote.

Indeed, people are so dissatisfied with what they are being offered on the ballot slip that some intelligent, thinking people with no previous political experience, are spending time, money and effort to provide a serious alternative. One such person is John Tory, running for mayor of Toronto, who is now placing a credible third as Barbara Hall's lead is whittled away, and voters increasingly see him as an alternative to CUPE's candidate David Miller.

And, in my town of Oshawa, we have Michael Clarke, who is running for mayor without any previous experience in municipal politics.

Michael Clarke is an interesting candidate indeed. In addition to being a local boy, (which carries a lot of weight in these days of parachuted candidates), he is a successful businessman, having gained a feel for international trade at the General Motors Export Department before obtaining degrees in Philosophy and English at the University of Guelph. He specializes in emerging markets, and spent time as the Canadian Manager of the International Trade Services Division of the U.K.'s Midland Bank. He now has his own company, and has participated in several Canadian Government trade missions overseas. And, he has taught international trade at Ryerson.

So why is he running for mayor? Bickering, secrecy and indecision in the council chambers are a large part of it, plus the sorry state of Oshawa's crumbling and increasingly dangerous downtown area. As he puts it, "Leadership is not blaming others and pointing fingers. Dividing and conquering may be a great way to win a fight, but it is a terrible way to run a city. I love my city and it is because of its deteriorating condition that I decided to run." On a deeper, more philosophical level, he has this to say: "There is a great lack of trust in governments generally today. Politicians often make promises and then seem to forget them. People who know me know that I will be relentless in fighting for the simple right to accountability in public affairs. Being told that there are 'good' people in charge doesn't cut it. Oshawa cannot remain a governance backwater and a haven for cronyism."

And with a solid background of participation in community groups and activities, he knows better than most that frustration is a big part of it, too, when he says: "There seems to be a serious disconnect between what the people of Oshawa want and expect from their elected representatives, and what this council delivers."

He is kept thoroughly aware of all the issues affecting Oshawa's well-being through his wife Cathy, who is in her third term as a city councillor, and his comprehensive platform covers them all, both large and small. Pointing out that the people who created Oshawa's problems are not likely to be the ones to solve them, he says up-front in his campaign literature that he is a businessman, not a career politician. A large part of his platform consists of identifying and offering practical solutions to Oshawa's problems, backed up with well-thought-out plans to attract businesses to Oshawa to provide jobs and increase the tax base. All of this is combined with a total commitment to openness and accountability at all levels of the civic administration, together with an earnest desire to lead by example, and to seek consensus rather than confrontation.

Michael Clarke may not have council experience, but he is already becoming known as a fighter on behalf of the taxpayers. He has expressed deep concern at a perceived lack of accountability on the part of organizations that receive public funding: "Lakeridge Health Corporation, and the private Oshawa General Hospital Foundation, for example, have a huge impact on our city's well-being, but for too long the current mayor has actively worked to suppress disclosure on the huge financial and management mess at Lakeridge Health and the Foundation. Municipal governments must remember that they are stewards of taxpayers' funds and have a statutory responsibility to ensure that those funds are used wisely and for the purposes intended."

It's sad that people like Michael Clarke find it necessary to disrupt their lives in response to such serious declines in standards and services. Then again, the rest of us are fortunate that people like him are willing and able to stand up and be counted, and to expend their personal resources challenging the 'status quo' on our behalf.

Check out the candidates in your city and ward. You may be lucky enough to have a Michael Clarke on your ballot too!

Jeff Goodall worked for the Metro Treasury and City Finance Departments for 25 years, and served as a member of the CUPE Local 79 Executive Board for 14 of those years.