McCaughey announces re-election campaign a good reason for others to run
Veteran Cobourg Councillor Dean McCaughey announced yesterday he was running again for council.
It is tough to get excited about such a long-serving councillor. He does a good job considering he has the toughest portfolio on council. Rarely is anyone truly happy with the planning department through no fault of their own. Developers always want more and everything done faster. Resident are NIMBY. So, it is a no-win situation. McCaughey is pretty relaxed most of the time, but sometimes he gets upset. It is usually internalized. Once, in the past year, he wrote a nasty, demeaning letter to the editor chastizing a group opposed to the Mr. Sub redevelopment.
This is a really good case of someone who should not run again. There are too many councillors in Cobourg who have served extended terms and need to give others a chance.
McCaughey said he wants to develop a consultation process that is more inclusive. Well, sorry, but he has had more than 15 years to do that and hasn' t taken a positive step. In fact, he supported a move to discourage presenters made by Deputy Mayor Bob Spooner earlier this year.
He also wants to start some kind of incubator for business in the industrial park. This is already done through the various agencies that exist like the Northumberland Business Development Assistance Corp and Northumberland Community futures Development Corporation and others. There are many other proactive things council could do to help small business.
Also, his desire to see the Cobourg East Community Official Plan go forward in an “orderly fashion” is arrogant. The planner and his staff will do a great job. There is little a politician actually does once it gets to this stage.
As for a team approach on council, this is almost laughable. That would be a posting all to itself. (Stay tuned).
His silence on the senior#039s centre is telling. If it gets big support leading up the election, watch him jump on. Likely he is waiting because this is one issue that may kill council, especially Councillor Gil Brocanier and the mayor.
As for bigger ice pad, which he says it would be tough to get funding, this is going to hurt him with the sports community. The question is a simple one: how is it council can find millions from a reserve fund for a senior's centre, but not for the sports community, which involves far more kids and adults? Sorry, Dean.
There have been a number of black marks for McCaughey this term. The Mr. Sub controversy was the most high profile and one that he got badly kicked around on. The Molly Baker Lane was not so traumatic. Still, there are lots of residents out there who are angry with him.
McCaughey is going to be a tough one to beat. It is too bad some politicians don't know when to walk away. If the field of candidates grows, he could be tossed out as the vote splits up. If it remains tight, he will be a shoo-in. This could be the best reason for people to run for council.
It is tough to get excited about such a long-serving councillor. He does a good job considering he has the toughest portfolio on council. Rarely is anyone truly happy with the planning department through no fault of their own. Developers always want more and everything done faster. Resident are NIMBY. So, it is a no-win situation. McCaughey is pretty relaxed most of the time, but sometimes he gets upset. It is usually internalized. Once, in the past year, he wrote a nasty, demeaning letter to the editor chastizing a group opposed to the Mr. Sub redevelopment.
This is a really good case of someone who should not run again. There are too many councillors in Cobourg who have served extended terms and need to give others a chance.
McCaughey said he wants to develop a consultation process that is more inclusive. Well, sorry, but he has had more than 15 years to do that and hasn' t taken a positive step. In fact, he supported a move to discourage presenters made by Deputy Mayor Bob Spooner earlier this year.
He also wants to start some kind of incubator for business in the industrial park. This is already done through the various agencies that exist like the Northumberland Business Development Assistance Corp and Northumberland Community futures Development Corporation and others. There are many other proactive things council could do to help small business.
Also, his desire to see the Cobourg East Community Official Plan go forward in an “orderly fashion” is arrogant. The planner and his staff will do a great job. There is little a politician actually does once it gets to this stage.
As for a team approach on council, this is almost laughable. That would be a posting all to itself. (Stay tuned).
His silence on the senior#039s centre is telling. If it gets big support leading up the election, watch him jump on. Likely he is waiting because this is one issue that may kill council, especially Councillor Gil Brocanier and the mayor.
As for bigger ice pad, which he says it would be tough to get funding, this is going to hurt him with the sports community. The question is a simple one: how is it council can find millions from a reserve fund for a senior's centre, but not for the sports community, which involves far more kids and adults? Sorry, Dean.
There have been a number of black marks for McCaughey this term. The Mr. Sub controversy was the most high profile and one that he got badly kicked around on. The Molly Baker Lane was not so traumatic. Still, there are lots of residents out there who are angry with him.
McCaughey is going to be a tough one to beat. It is too bad some politicians don't know when to walk away. If the field of candidates grows, he could be tossed out as the vote splits up. If it remains tight, he will be a shoo-in. This could be the best reason for people to run for council.
posted by Robert Washburn at
3:35 PM
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