It’s been said that every country — and by extension, every community — gets the government it deserves.
If this statement is true, I am becoming concerned about the local governments we in Summerland can expect in the future.
Earlier this year, Mayor Peter Waterman had dead rats left on his doorstep and offensive graffiti targeting him by name.
Others on this council and previous councils have told me about disturbing, threatening emails and messages they have received.
And I’ve noticed a growing confrontational, antagonistic tone from the public gallery during the regular council meetings, including heckling and booing during some discussions.
It wasn’t always like this.
When I started working at the Summerland Review in the mid-1990s, the tone at our council meetings was different.
A controversial agenda item would bring a full crowd, but those in the audience were able to respect the decision, even if they personally disagreed.
In those days, I loved covering Summerland’s municipal council meetings. What I saw around the council table and from the community was the way a good democracy was supposed to work.
I still enjoy covering local politics, but I find it a little harder to get excited about council meetings.
The debate and dialogue at the table are still compelling and I enjoy watching that part of the process.
My frustration is a result of the public reaction.
I’ve watched argumentative and belligerent speakers during opportunities for public comment, and I’ve heard far too many disrespectful comments from those in the public gallery.
Sometimes, the whispers behind me are loud enough to drown out the voices at the table.
This is disrespectful, not only to our elected council members but to the democratic process as well.
As long as I have been in Summerland, this community has been great at scrutinizing public officials, especially when a controversial decision is on the agenda.
People were willing to speak out if they didn’t agree with a decision, sometimes through comments after a meeting had concluded and sometimes by writing letters to the editor, taking one or more council members to task for their decisions.
But nobody left dead rats on doorsteps. Nobody left graffiti targeting those who sat at the council table.
Some may ask whether the graffiti and the dead rats this year were left by someone angered and outraged by Waterman’s position on controversial municipal issues and if so, which issue or issues triggered such responses.
But such speculation is meaningless. What matters is that such actions — unthinkable even a year ago — have been happening.
The question of motivation, if it could be answered, would not make such actions any less repulsive.
Most Summerlanders would not consider leaving graffiti or disposing of vermin as a way to make a political statement. In fact, they would be appalled by such actions.
But the fact that this behaviour exists at all is cause for concern.
If this is what one can expect to receive while serving on the council, some good and knowledgeable people will choose not to run for office in next year’s election.
A council member’s role is a difficult one. There is a huge time commitment, with lengthy agendas to read and many hours to spend at council meetings or on other boards and committees.
The decisions are sometimes difficult and the compensation is low.
Those who choose to put their names forward do so because they believe in serving their community.
Will they still be interested in serving if the angry tone of criticism does not subside?
John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.