The Election Aftermath…

So the municipal elections have come and gone and the Black community – at least the English speaking section of it – is still looking for some presence down at City Hall, in city council.
Given that the Union party and its leader are back for a third term, having weathered a storm of controversy surrounding corruption and scandal and other charges, rather than voting out the incumbent administration the electorate chose to give them another chance – perhaps to give the mayor an opportunity to redeem himself by disinfecting City Hall.
That process of redemption will be played out over the next four years in what many believe will be the incumbent mayor’s final kick of the can. But with three consecutive election victories, what’s left for him to do for the city of Montreal?
Meanwhile, those of us in this Black community with an interest in politics move on, still hoping to see some English-speaking Black people and hear their voices in city council meetings one of these years, speaking on issues of specific and common interest and concern to us. We would be better able to speak ourselves rather than giving our votes to others who purport to “speak for us,” on our behalf.
It’s safe to say that we can do a much better job of that.
Which is why during the recent municipal election campaign, a couple well-known people from the English speaking Black community put up a valiant struggle, going up against established political incumbents.
In her run for mayor of the NDG-Cote-des-Neiges borough, Brenda Paris finished a distant third behind the incumbent. For his part, Keaton Clarke was making a bid for a council seat in the Darlington district, but his optimism during the campaign failed to materialize in a win.
With such results, any sort of Black political representation anytime soon seems hopeless. But, that’s the nature of politics – winners and losers.
And yet, while the outcome was disappointing, it shouldn’t deter others in the community with political aspirations from throwing their hat into the political ring, as Paris and Clarke did.
Rather than talking the talk, both people, like all the Black candidates for the other parties, took it a step further and walked the walk: pounding the pavement and knocking on doors to meet the people – even in hostile territory – and let the chips fall where they might. Nothing ventured nothing gained... nobody said it would be easy...
At a town hall-style meeting a week or so before the elections, I met Paris and Clarke, as well as the leader of the party they represented, Louise Harel. Also, the leader of Projet Montréal, Richard Bergeron and some of his candidates showed up and aid their piece. Apparently, representatives of the other parties, especially Union Montreal, the governing party, were invited but didn’t show (perhaps they didn’t care about our votes…). They were busily campaigning, or the organizers of the meeting were outright snobbed.
Forget about the disappointing results, November’s municipal elections should herald the beginning of renewed interest and political involvement by our community in the political process, with the hopes of inspiring more people to come forward and continue where Paris and Clarke ended. Never mind the seemingly daunting odds.
If President Barack Obama (with his “Audacity of Hope”) had bought into the myth of “America’s not ready…” he would be practicing law in corporate America where the smell of money reeks…
His belief and determination, then, can be used as examples of individuals being able to move people, and be the impetus for us to move forward politically.
In the wake of the election, someone said he hopes Paris and Clarke won’t withdraw from the public; they haven’t been heard from since November 1. If anything, they should be at the vanguard of a movement to rally more people in the community to become politically involved and active. Out of necessity.
The same community radio shows that offered them air time during the campaign, as well as the print media, should still be accessible to them to keep the political fires burning… And town hall-style meetings must be ongoing in order to generate and maintain interest. Our political campaign is infinite – until.
The urgency of Black representation at Montreal City Hall cannot be put on the backburner just because of political setbacks.
In fact, it should be another beginning as well as the impetus [sic!] for others with ambition and political aspirations to become engaged in the political process. By doing so, and more importantly, getting elected, we will be on the inside of the process where things happen, rather than languishing on the periphery where we’ve been forever… talking and thinking… and talking… Talking and whining about “no Black city councillors” is not an option. Nothing ventured means absolutely nothing will be gained.
Here’s another reason why we need Black people in city council: to give voice to some of our pressing issues... police shootings, harassment, and profiling of Black males by both metro and above-ground peace officers…
Such issues have traditionally received cursory attention when (some well-meaning) white councillor brought them to the table. With Black folk there that will no longer be necessary, issues will be debated more seriously, and things will inevitably begin to change.
The power of physical political presence, that’s our long-term objective.
by Novel THOMAS