"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Monday 10 March 2014

A Little Bt of Background

When I came to Aurora,  I still had  everything  to learn about politics. The U/K was a two -party system. Conservative and  Labour.

In Canada ,it was Progressive Conservative and Liberal. The CCF didn't have much of a profile.
The New Domocratic Party was yet to be formed.

Major Lex Mackenzie was  the  P.C. MLA for the Riding.  He  was already  a legend.  His  voice had never been heard in the legislative assembly/ His status  in the Riding was high. No problem went unattended. He was a warm and caring man.

When he stepped down ,Bill Hodgson, a  farmer from King Township succeeded him.

His family had deep roots. He had served as a Councillor in King Townahip, then Reeve ,then Warden of  York County before he became  MLA.

He followed  in  Major Lex's footsteps and took care of every problem.  As Mayor I had good reason to know. He looked  after the Riding.  He was responsible for  Newmarket Court house neing established among other things.

The average resident  would never have reason to discover how much that means.

The Riding was a safe seat for the Davis government.

With little recognition for the  King Township farmer whp made it happen.

Pine Ridge, the Ontario Hospital , closed as an institution .

The  government proposed  the property be used as a youth detention centre .A relatively innocuous
facility, we thought.

Young people in trouble would not  have to be shuttled back and forth to Toronto and families
would have better access.

M.L.A. Hodgson supported the  proposal.

 As did I  as the town's  Mayor .

Furious  controversy  erupted . We defended the  purpose.

Then plans were released . A ten foot high chain link fence topped with barbed wire, patrolled by guard dogs  were the security.

Bill was in trouble. It was not what  he understood. His government dropped him into it.

An election was in the offing. Nomination was scheduled at King City Composite High School.

The member was wounded. The jackals  had gathered.

I took a membership in the Riding Association to be able to vote for nomination of a member who had  served  the people well.

George Timpson was a candidate. George had already been a Liberal candidate. He offered.They accepted. George paid for everything.  He was in debt for years and still using  Liberal signs  many municipal elections later . He had bought too many.

George just wanted to be in politics. He didn't much care where and he saw an opportunity.

I was at the nomination meeting. I voted.

The other candidate  was Frank Klees. Nothing  whatsoever was known  about him. Like George,  he saw someone in trouble and an opportunity for himself.

I am not drawn to opportunists.

Bill Hodgson won the nomination, the election and  he continued to serve.







11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Zowey ! Gotcha! back to the drawing board

Anonymous said...

Make up your own mind, 10:13.

Anonymous said...

I understand what you are saying, Evelyn. But perhaps in this instance it might be mutual opportunism ? We would know exactly what we were getting. The last 2 were just so damn disappointing when they were actually given that gavel. It's not like there are a lot of options on the table unless you know something I don't. And I have noticed that new guy who claims not to have decided whether or not to run for mayor. All he appears to offer is the assurance that a ward system would solve all Auroran problems & a possible link to Cllr Ballard. Not good at all.

Anonymous said...

By all accounts Gallo will be running for the Mayors chair - NOW that's scary!

Anonymous said...

10:28
You were supposed to grin, sourpuss

Anonymous said...

christopher on auroran finances and other assorted boon-doggles

Anonymous said...

christpher christopher christopher

Anonymous said...

16:45 And meow to you too.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn and, to some extent, Councillor Ballard have immunity. The rest are all going to be trying to change the perception of voters. I do not think it can be done so late in the term. The only hope they have is to limit the damage before this short remained time is up. That would have to start with the cancellation of ANY big ticket items that could tie the hands of an in-coming council.
Oh, yeah, and then there is still the budget with all the entitlements.
No meeting tomorrow night. Wine with dinner, Evelyn ?

Anonymous said...


11:09

The only place to which Gallo should be running is the barber.

Anonymous said...

You gotta love him!