The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
July 29, 2008
FIRST OUT OF THE GATE
I guess the target on Randy McLean's back must be fading a little.
He announced this week (see the bottom of the Front Page) that he's going to seek re-election in the November Municipal Elections. At first I thought he was going to say he decided that being Mayor for nine of the last 12 years has been long enough, it's time to hang up the saddle and take on other projects.
Now he wants to finish the job, and I think he's being sincere about that.
I've always thought we were living in Princeton during a crucial time in it's history. I still believe the projects, developments and decisions made between now and 2010 will have a huge effect on the future of our community. I've said that since before the current term began thinking the two Town Councils leading us up to the Olympics will have huge responsibilities and may also be remembered for some pretty big accomplishments.
There's no secret that I don't get along with all our current Town Council. One member barely acknowledges I exist, others tolerate me and the rest I get along fine with, but when you sit down and take a very hard look at the work they have done collectively (along with assistance from the Town Office staff, EDO and Recreation Department) there's been a lot of progress in a short period of time.
Sure, they've dropped the ball on occasion, but overall I can't think of any other time so much government funding was directed into the development of our community's infrastructure and cultural fabric.
In the 22+ years I've lived here I can honestly say I've never seen a Town Council accomplish so much. Now that I've said it, it may appear that I'm endorsing everything they have done, but I'm not...really.
There are other factors involved that should not be ignored. The Provincial and Federal governments have been spending a lot of money on small communities. Hedley and Keremeos have also been getting a fair share of the cash to assist in many of their community developments.
The timing has been right to be on our Town Council for some of these things to have happened. They also worked hard to qualify for these funding opportunities, but ten years ago or fifteen years ago these kinds of funding programs did not exist.
Regardless of the mistakes made along the way, our Town Council deserves credit for making a real difference in the quality of life for the residents of Princeton.
Back to the issue of timing. I think Randy's announcement couldn't have come at a better time. Rumours have been circulating for weeks about who's running and for what. I've said before in this column, the first one out of the gate will be tough to beat and maybe, just maybe, Randy's so used to wearing the target on his back that he may not want to give it up quite yet.
I think he deserves the chance to finish what's already on the table before we start electing a lot of the wrong people to our council to undo what's been done up to now.
