OPINION: IT'S TIME

OPINION: If you go down to Town Hall today you'll feel the tension beginning to build. Time is running out for the Mayor and the ground is shifting under his feet. The numbers are growing for those who want to knock his hat off. Also, Ald. Finlay looks less and less likely to get enough puff to knock it off.

Albert is in the line-up again apparently because there's a branch of a political party that wants to 'rain on Janie's parade' and curiously, they seem to see him as some kind of Messiah. 

However, recent events in Canberra have begun to shoot holes in that strategy. Here it might be worth considering 2 Corinthians 10:12  “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”

Politicising local government in a 'party context' is ever likely to backfire given the way the ground shifts. Not putting too fine a point on it, fingers can, and do, get burnt.  Long ago, Socrates in his wisdom recommended that one needed “to find yourself and then think for yourself” and in local government, if one has the wherewithal, that advice stands up well in a representational role.

Currently within the candidates lining up for the 'Top Jobs' there are three of the five so far who do not have  'party allegiances' or aspirations beyond community representation. That's very refreshing given that they look like they can also divine the difference between up and down, in and out.

In the 'deputy's camp' as yet its still unclear but those wishing to 'sideline Janie' have got one contender who has declared himself. However, others have joined the dance and are positioning themselves and beginning to 'bay for blood' given the overall background performances and the incumbency's culture of 'seat warming'. However, some may simply be jostling for place at the trough, – so beware and aware.

In the representative's camp you would like to think that that there will be alternatives to the status quo given that 'the quo' have well and truly lost or forfeited their status.

Dr Tandra Vale

Cultural Commentator