Breaking News: I’m not running for the vacated NDP MP seat to replace recently retired Victoria MP Denise Savoie.
Granted, I wasn’t asked. There were no secret meetings over tea at the Empress (or anywhere else for that matter), but there was public interest.
Well, when I say public, I mean that my wife asked if I was interested, to which I replied, “Hmm, you know, I think that is a job I would find fascinating, except for the politics.”
Ms. Savoie has done an outstanding job in her years as our MP and didn’t allow the whiny, backstabbing politics of it stop her from trying to make a difference. And it’s that making-a-difference part that I like — the business of politics rather than the rah-rah-toe-the-party-line politics of politics.
Politicians, however, do amuse me. The reason I decided to let you know that I wasn’t running for the MP seat (even though you never asked) is simply because everyone else seems to be doing the same .
Victoria councillor Marianne Alto actually sent out a press release on Monday morning to clarify that she would not be running for the seat either. But she thanked the anonymous “people from across the political spectrum” for their encouragement. Hopefully, none of these encouraging folk were those who lost out to her in the last municipal election, since they might have impure motives.
Mayor Dean Fortin also isn’t running for the hot seat, but at least he declared his lack of interest in response to media speculation rather than, well, just because.
The rest of our city’s councillors are really dropping the ball on this one. If you can’t be mentioned in the press for doing something newsworthy, then simply answer the questions that nobody is asking.
Coun. Ben Isitt could declare that he’s not planning to join the BC Liberals in an effort to give the ailing department of finance a Movember makeover and give rebates to those who grow a great moustache in support of a cure for prostate cancer. After all, this hairy crew will be using less water and buying fewer shaving supplies than their smooth-faced brothers.
Coun. Geoff Young could declare that despite his Harvard education and CRD Water Supply Commission knowledge that ice is only frozen water, he’s decided not to seek the role of goalie for the Victoria Royals.
While Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe could declare that her solution to curb aggressive panhandling is not to enter all the homeless in the next amateur wet T-shirt contest at The Fox Showroom Pub for a cash prize.
Hmm, I’m glad I didn’t ask. M