Civic critic calls for clearout of 'deadwood'
January 1, 2006
Winnipeg Sun
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER
It's time to clear out city hall's "deadwood" to make way for fresh thinkers with creative ideas, says an urban studies analyst.
And Jino Distasio says that means 2005 should be the last full year on the job for several councillors who have held their offices for decades.
"Perhaps it's time to get some different faces and new blood going. I wouldn't mind getting new people to replace some of the deadwood," Distasio, director of the University of Winnipeg's Institute of Urban Studies, told the Sun.
New ideas
"It's about getting some new ideas. We want to energize the city and keep young people. Maybe getting some new thinking on council is good."
Distasio didn't say who among council's 15 members -- excluding the mayor -- should bow out when voters cast ballots in a civic election next October, though he suggested that "career" politicians are poised to hold up the 'Peg's progress with outdated attitudes on transit and other matters.
"I think they know who they are," he added. "Is being a councillor a full-time job, or is it to contribute to the betterment of the city?"
A council position is a full-time job, and has been since 1992 when the provincial government changed legislation to slash Winnipeg's number of seats to 15 from 29.
The longest-serving members are Harry Lazarenko (Mynarski) and Mike O'Shaughnessy (Old Kildonan), both of whom were first elected in 1974 before sitting out a couple of three-year terms. Jae Eadie (St. James-Brooklands) has been a councillor since 1980, and Bill Clement (Charleswood-Tuxedo) since 1983. Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) was elected in 1989.
Lazarenko blasted any suggestion that representatives grow too comfortable in their seats, and avoid controversy to keep them.
The 68-year-old said he had considered stepping down next fall, "but with the comments from this guy I'm challenging him to run for public office to get a taste of it."
Lazarenko denied councillors become out-of-touch, and argued that it takes them about three years in office just to learn the ropes.
Pointing to former premier and governor general Ed Schreyer, he charged that age and experience are only advantages.
"I wonder what he'd say about Ed Schreyer who is 70 and going for a seat as a member of Parliament," Lazarenko said.
"Does it mean that if they get to a certain age, we can't let them play with matches because they'll set themselves on fire?"