Editor,
Regarding the recent letter to the editor stating that Mayor Patrick Johnstone engages in an “authoritarian” style of governance, I respectfully question if the author has watched or attended any council meetings or actually lives in New West.
I encourage people to watch the recording of the recent council meeting regarding approval of the supported housing proposal at 422 Sixth St. and see for themselves how Mayor Johnstone manages a council where one council member appears determined to dominate every conversation, taking up the space that could instead be used for constructive and collaborative dialogue with all of council. I see Mayor Johnstone making efforts and doing his best to ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute. When procedural questions arise, he pauses to ask the city clerk for procedural guidance, and follows that guidance while taking time to explain to the members of council how he interprets the guidance he receives. This is the hallmark of any good chair.
Far from having “temper tantrums”, I see a chair that is remarkably calm in the face of borderline hostility and challenges by certain council members. The rare break from the mayor’s measured tone is almost always when he speaks passionately about the need to protect the most vulnerable people in our community against the sometimes offensive attacks and demonization they have to endure when any measure to bring support for them is raised.
I want a leader who is calm in the face of adversity, but passionate in service to his community, especially the most vulnerable members of the community, and that is what I see in city council. I hope the mayor does not take this false attack on his character to heart, because people who are paying attention to council know it is not true.
Kelly Slade-Kerr
New Westminster, BC
Former c hair, New Westminster Board of Education
