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Councillor Steve Streatch Too Busy For Council, Too Sexy For His Chair |
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Written by Editor
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Sunday, 08 April 2007 |
Not only is HRM councillor Steve Streatch too busy for regional council meetings, his time is too valuable to waste on city business. You see, he has more important things to do.
The Halifax Daily News exposed a different kind of 'Inconvenient Truth" last week, and it's sure cause an already cynical public to become even more cynical of our politicians.
Streatch it seems failed the first law in the politician's code of survival - he planted his foot firmly in mouth. He didn't have too and that's probably the most painful part for him.
Streatch tied for the worst attendance record at City Hall in the last year. Here's the scoop and the poop.
The Daily news reported HRM council usually meets once a week for two meetings: council and committee of the whole. Councillor Steve Streatch missed 25 per cent of the 67 meetings.
When confronted with the information by a Daily News reporter VIA telephone, Streatch said the following:
"Council is one thing - and I have missed very few council meetings - committee is another thing. Committee is just committee. Don't make it sound as though I'm missing 25 per cent of council meetings," Streatch said.
The Daily News pointed out he missed 9 of 40 regional council meetings, which equals 22.5 per cent. Even better, the records show that Streatch actually missed more council meetings than committee meetings. In a one year period, Streatch missed 9 council meetings and 8 committee meetings.
Here comes the foot:
"I believe that my time is more valuable than going back and forth ad nauseum, hour upon hour, and not being able to make a decision at the committee level," Streatch told the Daily News.
In other words, his time is too valuable to waste on city business. It gets better:
"I find it redundant. I find it a waste of my time, which I consider valuable. Regional council is one of my jobs. I have a family farm - a family company - that I have obligations to as well and, like I say, I have a district that is huge," he said.
There we have it, Steve Streatch is too busy with his family farm, his family company and other obligations. He's just too busy to perform his duties as councillor. He's not to busy to cash his HRM paycheck. Councillors are paid $54,250 per year.
With the interview complete and realizing he had just planted his foot firmly in mouth, Streatch immediately called the reporter. It was time for damage control.
"I wasn't trying to insinuate before that I'm too busy to come to meetings, but the fact of the matter is, the other end of district is over 200 kilometres away from City Hall. It's easy for somebody who lives in downtown or across the bridge to take five minutes and come over to City Hall for a meeting then go back and be in their constituency.
"When I leave, it's an hour's drive in and once you do that, and, you know, it's an hour's drive back, you're pretty well committed for the whole day," Streatch said.
Committed for the whole day? Well, that's the reality of being a councillor. You are asked to take care of municipal business on a Tuesday, one day of the week. Is that too much to ask? For $54,250 per year, it certainly sounds like a good deal for a part time job.
Maybe you can tell us who forced you into this job?
Let's face it, you're just too busy for council and too sexy for your chair.
You know what Donald Trump would say.....
I have a feeling you'll be hearing it in 2008 and I'm sure you do too. |
