The Street Wise Awards for City Council Newsmakers of the Year
These awards are for Miramichi city council members who stood out in the news in 2008.
Most Out-of-The-Blue Political Comeback Award
Michael Malley.
Wow.
I gotta admit, I never saw this one coming.
Just when I thought Malley had lost all chance of ever being taken seriously as a political contender on the Miramichi again after his cross-the-floor, cross-back episodes from 2006, he won a seat on Miramichi city council. From school bus driver/city councillor, to MLA, to Speaker of the House back to school bus driver and city councillor again, Michael Malley’s covered a lot of political ground in the last few years.
He’s definitely the Timex watch of Miramichi politicians. He takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.
Most Incredible Waste Of Your-Money-and-Mine Award
This award is for the worst waste of taxpayer money on the Miramichi in 2008. And, boy, was this an easy choice to make.
The Peter Nevin Buyout, hands down.
After months of debate by the previous council on whether the city should buy out Chatham rink manager Peter Nevin for $130,000, plus pension, plus a free health-care plan, the very first act of Miramichi’s newly elected council was to approve the buyout – in less than 15 minutes!
Only councillor Mike McCoombs and Deputy Mayor Nancy Lordon voted against the motion made by Coun. Rupert Bernard and seconded by Coun. Brian King, the last two remnants of the former council.
When I think about the thousands of Miramichiers forced to migrate across the continent to make a buck, while this guy got handed a huge wad of cash for nothing, it makes me sick to my stomach. To those of you who kicked this ridiculous package through, you should be ashamed.
Most Exaggerated Political Statement of 2008
Last January, city council passed a motion to reduce its funding for Enterprise Miramichi from $35,000 to $1 because the agency announced it wanted to move from Chatham to Newcastle. The majority of council thought the move would be bad, but former city councillor Peter Manderson wins this award for calling the proposed move a “bombshell for the community.”
Bombshell? Can you say over-the-top?
The Enterprise situation cleared itself up without a move across town, but the reactions by councillors showed the old Chatham-Newcastle rivalry is far from dead.
Best Political Retort of 2008
Councilor Reg Falconer’s response to councilor Peter Manderson’s statement about Enterprise Miramichi’s planned move at the same January council meeting mentioned above is the best political retort of 2008.
"They're not moving to Blackville,” Falconer said of Enterprise. “They're not moving to Moncton. They're moving inside the city. Just as plain and simple as that. I don't see what the complication is,” he said.
“This is so stupid it's unreal.”
I'm a writer who puts a lot of stock in the saying, Never use a two-dollar word when a nickel word will do.
"This is so stupid it's unreal,” is the best 30 cents worth of common sense of 2008.
Most Outstanding Miramichi Politician of 2008
I’m presenting this award to John McKay, the previous mayor of Miramichi, for one of the smoothest political moves it’s ever been my pleasure to witness.
Outgoing mayor John McKay walked out of the last council meeting of his administration, leaving the council without enough members to vote and killing the motion to buy out Chatham rink manager Peter Nevin I’ve detailed above.
“This issue has sadly inserted a poisonous and divisive element into our community when more urgent and serious issues should be our focus,” McKay wrote in the May 9 Miramichi Leader.
McKay added he couldn’t support the buyout considering the serious financial stress Miramichi faced.
By walking out of that meeting, McKay prevented the city council at the time from throwing away a big pile of money for no good reason.
It's too bad the very first thing the next council did was dig up its bones and kick the deal through, but that's the way she goes.
So here’s to John McKay.
What you did at the 11th hour to save the citizens of Miramichi a whole lot of dough was pretty damn cool. You're definitely the most outstanding Miramichi politician of 2008.
Most Out-of-The-Blue Political Comeback Award
Michael Malley.
Wow.
I gotta admit, I never saw this one coming.
Just when I thought Malley had lost all chance of ever being taken seriously as a political contender on the Miramichi again after his cross-the-floor, cross-back episodes from 2006, he won a seat on Miramichi city council. From school bus driver/city councillor, to MLA, to Speaker of the House back to school bus driver and city councillor again, Michael Malley’s covered a lot of political ground in the last few years.
He’s definitely the Timex watch of Miramichi politicians. He takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.
Most Incredible Waste Of Your-Money-and-Mine Award
This award is for the worst waste of taxpayer money on the Miramichi in 2008. And, boy, was this an easy choice to make.
The Peter Nevin Buyout, hands down.
After months of debate by the previous council on whether the city should buy out Chatham rink manager Peter Nevin for $130,000, plus pension, plus a free health-care plan, the very first act of Miramichi’s newly elected council was to approve the buyout – in less than 15 minutes!
Only councillor Mike McCoombs and Deputy Mayor Nancy Lordon voted against the motion made by Coun. Rupert Bernard and seconded by Coun. Brian King, the last two remnants of the former council.
When I think about the thousands of Miramichiers forced to migrate across the continent to make a buck, while this guy got handed a huge wad of cash for nothing, it makes me sick to my stomach. To those of you who kicked this ridiculous package through, you should be ashamed.
Most Exaggerated Political Statement of 2008
Last January, city council passed a motion to reduce its funding for Enterprise Miramichi from $35,000 to $1 because the agency announced it wanted to move from Chatham to Newcastle. The majority of council thought the move would be bad, but former city councillor Peter Manderson wins this award for calling the proposed move a “bombshell for the community.”
Bombshell? Can you say over-the-top?
The Enterprise situation cleared itself up without a move across town, but the reactions by councillors showed the old Chatham-Newcastle rivalry is far from dead.
Best Political Retort of 2008
Councilor Reg Falconer’s response to councilor Peter Manderson’s statement about Enterprise Miramichi’s planned move at the same January council meeting mentioned above is the best political retort of 2008.
"They're not moving to Blackville,” Falconer said of Enterprise. “They're not moving to Moncton. They're moving inside the city. Just as plain and simple as that. I don't see what the complication is,” he said.
“This is so stupid it's unreal.”
I'm a writer who puts a lot of stock in the saying, Never use a two-dollar word when a nickel word will do.
"This is so stupid it's unreal,” is the best 30 cents worth of common sense of 2008.
Most Outstanding Miramichi Politician of 2008
I’m presenting this award to John McKay, the previous mayor of Miramichi, for one of the smoothest political moves it’s ever been my pleasure to witness.
Outgoing mayor John McKay walked out of the last council meeting of his administration, leaving the council without enough members to vote and killing the motion to buy out Chatham rink manager Peter Nevin I’ve detailed above.
“This issue has sadly inserted a poisonous and divisive element into our community when more urgent and serious issues should be our focus,” McKay wrote in the May 9 Miramichi Leader.
McKay added he couldn’t support the buyout considering the serious financial stress Miramichi faced.
By walking out of that meeting, McKay prevented the city council at the time from throwing away a big pile of money for no good reason.
It's too bad the very first thing the next council did was dig up its bones and kick the deal through, but that's the way she goes.
So here’s to John McKay.
What you did at the 11th hour to save the citizens of Miramichi a whole lot of dough was pretty damn cool. You're definitely the most outstanding Miramichi politician of 2008.
posted by Street Wise Guy | 9:09 AM
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