Nothing is ever what you think in politics

After an abysmal set of predictions, the reality of Monday night's municipal election presents pause for some serious thought.

Certainly, the winners and losers are obvious. Mayor Peter Delanty returned, along with Deputy Mayor Gil Brocanier and councillors Bob Spooner, Dean McCaughey and Bill MacDonald.  For those seeking reform, Miriam Mutton and Stan Frost were the two newcomers to the council chambers. On the surface, it might appear there was no change.

But, voters did send a message.

Mutton and Frost won by a sizable margin, both with more than 4,000 votes. Spooner sat behind with 3,700 and then McCaughey with 2,800 and MacDonald with 2,700. Candidates Gerry Drage, Larry Sherwin and Howie McCourt were not too far behind. In fact, only 300 votes separated them and they were not far behind MacDonald.

The endorsement Mutton and Frost received by placing first and second tells us voters want change. The kinds of reform both these candidates were proposing got a clear mandate. The old way of doing business must go. Any councillor that thinks they can swagger into the chamber in January and do business as usual is mistaken. Let's hope both these new councillors carry the courage of their convictions and don't let the old boys club intimidate them.

While this is pure fantasy, Spooner, McCaughey and MacDonald might act with some level of contrition and humility, not the characteristic arrogance that so often pervades their approach in council and in public. It would be nice to hear a lot less from Spooner and a lot more from Delanty and others. If the media don't seek them out, then maybe they should seek the media and make their positions more public. Not for the media's sake, but for the public's sake.

Or, join the rest of us in the 21st century and get a blog. (Spooner would never do this. He won't even write letters to the editor to defend himself).

It is also necessary to choke down some humble pie. My sincerest apologies to Bridget  Campion, who did a credible job with her quiet campaign. Stealth works. Obviously, she did better than Williams, who embarrassed himself, despite his own predictions of failure at the polls.

Another reality that came home is the death of small town politics. Delanty's political machine smoked the other candidates. You cannot run alone anymore. The days of several people working with a candidate and running a campaign of door-knocking and pamphlets is long gone. It began with Joan Chalovich's run for office  six years ago and now it will be the standard. Folksy, homegrown politics is gone. We are now cattle to be herded by sophisticated handlers and backroom advisors.

It is said voters get the politicians they deserve. Did we deserve this? I don't know. But, we have four years to live with this decision. The responsibility rests with all of us to be vigilant.