Its never to late to learn

I'm not sure how my posting yesterday generated comments on the Ward 5 by-election and particularly singled out candidate Ainsley Robertson.

A couple of years ago and friend hosted an event to assist a young woman, named Ainsley Robertson, who wanted to establish The Princess Shop, a non-profit organization that would provide evening wear for high schools students who couldn't otherwise afford to attend their graduations. We were to bring gowns, shoes, accessories and anything that could remotely be used to help these students. I was a great idea and the response was tremendous. I was very impressed by this young woman and thought she had great potential for her future.

When I heard that she was seeking a seat on council my first reaction was that she might be jumping the gun and should have waited a bit until her profile was better developed. Then I remembered the maturity she exhibited in establishing The Princess Shop and thought perhaps she was up to the task.

Then I started to hear the rumours about her ties to Councillor Hill and that he was injecting himself into her campaign. Her response to yesterday's blog confirmed that the rumour was fact.

What Ainsley will learn from this experience will shape her future. As appealing as it is to have a known "public figure" stump for you, she must remember that this person can potentially cost you as many votes as he could garner. Those with low opinions of Hill may transfer those same opinions onto her. Those who question his ethics will question hers. Everything comes with a price and the cost of Hill's support may be higher than its worth - win, lose or draw.

Ainsley also stated there was nothing in the rules to prevent Hill's participation, which is true. But in politics image is everything.

She further commented that the Sask Party/Conservatives were aiding and abetting candidate Donauer. She has two lessons here to be learned. The first being that we, the public, still like to believe that civic politics is non-partisan. The second is that she is running in a ward that has elected Sask Party MLAs and leaving the illusion that she is tied to an opposing entity may not work in her favour.

Some commented that MPs and MLAs work federal/provincial by-elections, so why not work a civic by-election. At the federal/provincial level political parties are elected and every member of the party is expected to help out as the election outcome it benefits them all. They also vote as a block supporting the party's position that may, from time to time, differ from their personal opinions. At the civic level you supposedly do not represent a political entity and are independent of party ideology. You vote individually, hopefully reflecting good judgment and the concerns of the electors you represent.

If Ainsley is successful in this election she will have to make a conscious effort to separate herself from Hill and dispel the concern of her being puppeted by him. I assume the current councillor remuneration is on par or more that her salary with Junior Achievement so she can leave that position, where Hill is her direct supervisor, and not project herself as being under his thumb. She also has the support of some very successful mature women in this city who will mentor her and hopefully provide good guidance for her career.

If she is not successful at this time, I hope she has learned some valuable lessons from this experience and will try again. I believe as she matures the greatness of her potential will emerge.

NOTE: SINCE POSTING THIS BLOG I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY AINSLEY ROBERTSON AND ADVISED THAT SHE DID NOT COMMENT ON YESTERDAY'S BLOG. SOMEONE PURPORTING TO BE HER COMMENTED ON HER BEHALF WITHOUT HER CONSENT.