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Up before the family and enjoying some quiet time. It’s been a while since my last #Run4Ottawa thread. Let’s continue thinking about the things you should consider when contemplating a run for municipal office. Are you qualified?
This is an interesting question - with no hard and fast answers. There’s no entrance requirement, no university prerequisite, and quite frankly, there shouldn’t be. We need people of all backgrounds in elected office, and any field of study or work experience can help you
This qualification question filters out a lot of potentially excellent representatives - I hear it a lot from women, especially. I prefer to shift the focus from qualifications to qualities. Are you a good listener? Are you a good advocate? Can you find ways to build consensus?
Do you like people? Are you able to work with people you don’t like? Are you a good problem-solver? Are you flexible when it makes sense to shift course and ready to stand your ground when it doesn’t? Can you communicate your points clearly? Are you OK with speaking in public?
All of these qualities can be useful - and there are more. Those you don’t possess can be compensated for in other ways (for example, I’ve known a few introverted politicians who may not always be comfortable with people but are amazing advocates, problem-solvers and negotiators)
You may also possess particular skills that can be an asset around the council table and in your ward. Being able to run an efficient meeting (or participate effectively in a meeting whether it’s being run well or not). If you’ve got a grasp on rules of order, awesome.
(Pro tip: If your community association or condo board or nonprofit board meetings go on for hours, they’re not well run meetings. If they’re short because no one says anything, they are also not well run. It’s an underrated skill to structure and lead a meeting effectively)
Familiarity with budgeting, being able to read and interpret a budget is also useful, as is the ability to read and understand things like bylaws and policy documents. You need to be able to read things closely and ask the right questions
Yes, my multiple English degrees have come in handy, allowing me to shift careers and hone a particularly geeky ability to interpret legislation and policy language. But really, if you can read stuff and pay attention to the implications of what you’re reading, you’re good.
Likewise with the budgeting - you don’t need to have run a business or have an MBA - that experience might come in handy. Then again it might not, as a city budget is a whole other beast.
Public speaking & working with the media aren’t things that come naturally to everyone, and even those who have the gift of gab may need a little training. It’s not a deal-breaker if you need some help - practice helps build confidence and there are great training programs
Knowing how the city works and understanding the planning process - also handy, but are they required? I’d argue no. Decisions on a whole range of issues are brought to the council table, and planning decisions are one slice. We want councillors with diverse expertise
So you may have spent the last 10 years doing a deep dive into zoning with your community association, or you may be a parent raising 4 kids in a low income neighbourhood with tremendous unmet needs or you may be running a small business and have a passion for water quality...
It’s all relevant. Make a list of what you think your qualifications are, and what skills you possess. If you think you have a gap, figure out if it’s something you can learn as you prep your run. And look for opportunities to fill those gaps in knowledge and skill
The city runs Planning Primer workshops for residents, which are super handy. Not running right now but the material is online https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/learn-about-planning-process/planning-primer
There’s also info on how the city budget works https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget/understanding-your-city-budget
City for All Women Initiative does an amazing job making municipal issues accessible, particularly to women and those who experience marginalization. They also run great workshops, promote civic engagement and decison-making with a gender & equity lens https://www.cawi-ivtf.org/
Women might find @InformedOps workshops useful - primarily aimed at helping women build media profile & writing op-eds, which may help you push through self-doubt and hone skills in expressing your ideas clearly https://informedopinions.org/
I’ll leave it here for today! My main point: you’re likely more qualified than you think you are, and we need people with diverse backgrounds around the table. A room full of planning experts may not make the best decisions about social services, transportation or sustainability
