Now That You Have Been Elected
The day after the municipal election can be a very scary time. The campaign is over and you have been elected. What do you do?
The first things to do is take a deep breath and realize that many people have just gone through what you have; they are feeling the same way you are feeling and have come through with flying colours.
The day after the municipal election can be a very scary time. The campaign is over and you have been elected. What do you do?
The first things to do is take a deep breath and realize that many people have just gone through what you have; they are feeling the same way you are feeling and have come through with flying colours.
Next you need to know that there are many people who are rooting for you and want you to be successful.
Find Your Bearings
Many municipalities will hold orientation sessions for the new council. Find out when this session will be held and keep a note of all your questions.
The chief administrative officer of your municipality will be an invaluable source of information. Many of your questions can be answered by this person. Plan to meet with him or her on a regular basis.
There will likely be councillors who have been returned to office. They will have much needed political advice that you can seek out.
The provincial department responsible for municipal affairs is Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Shortly after the election they will hold an orientation for new councillors. This is a must attend not only for the valuable information but also for the opportunity to network with other new councillors.
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations also provides ongoing support through their municipal advisors. There are three municipal advisors who are responsible for liaising with municipalities in Nova Scotia. Your advisor can be an invaluable source of information and support.
Learn the Landscape
You should become familiar with the principal piece of legislation governing municipal government in Nova Scotia. This is the Municipal Government Act.
Review other municipal documents such as the municipal budget, the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS), the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) as well as any organizational reviews/studies that may have been undertaken.
Maintain ongoing contact with your community. Sometimes this will mean listening to what they have to say; sometimes this will mean informing them of what is happening at the council level and sometimes this will mean facilitating an ongoing dialogue around an important issue. Always see relations with the community as a learning experience for you and for them.
Remember that one of the hall marks of a successful municipal politician is continuous learning. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn. There are many learning opportunities available to municipal councillors and from a variety of sources. These include the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM), Dalhousie University’s College of Continuing Education and the Province of Nova Scotia.
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Mothers, Sisters, Daughters…Did you know that while women make up more than 50 percent of our population, they make up a mere 21 per cent of municipal councillors and 7 per cent of mayors and wardens in Nova Scotia? -
The municipal council is the governing body of the municipality. The council should reflect the diversity of views and opinions that naturally reside within the municipality. Too often this is not the case and decisions are made that do not fully take into account this diversity. -
Speak to others who have served on the municipal council. They will be able to tell you first hand what it is like. They will have experienced the joys as well as the disappointments of being a municipal politician. This will help you decide if this is for you. -
Remember that one of the hall marks of a successful municipal politician is continuous learning. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and to grow. Progressive municipalities will set aside monies in the annual budget to support the training and development of their municipal councillors. -
Sincere desire to make your community better. This should be the main motivation for any form of public service including being a municipal councillor. A willingness to listen to a variety of demands place upon you and your time by individuals and groups in your community. -
Being a municipal councillor means being a community leader. It is a place where you and your fellow councillors can make a real difference in the lives of the people in your community. -
The Municipal Elections Act provides all the statutory requirements for a Municipal Election. For those thinking of running for a Municipal Election, you need to determine if you can run. -
Making the
decision to run for municipal office is not an easy decision to make but
once it is made you should direct all of your energies to winning the
election. To do so you will need to have a well-organized campaign plan
in order to be successful. -
Offering to stand for municipal election is certainly a noble and selfless contribution to the betterment of your community but it is certainly not the only way in which those who are so inclined can do so. Indeed there are many ways to make a contribution many of which require much less time and are not so much in the spot light. -
The salary and benefits for Elected Officials vary widely from municipality to municipality. -
The day after the municipal election can be a very scary time. The campaign is over and you have been elected. What do you do?
The first things to do is take a deep breath and realize that many people have just gone through what you have; they are feeling the same way you are feeling and have come through with flying colours.