Surviving the First Two Weeks

As of the writing of this post, the province of New Brunswick held their local government elections a few days ago, and there are a series of other elections that are yet to occur across much of Canada in the late summer and fall. Following those elections, a whole bunch of new councillors, mayors, reeves, and wardens will be joining their more experienced colleagues around a council table for the next four years. At the same time, a whole bunch of experienced members will be departing, whether voluntarily or not.

Unlike federal or provincial elections, in most of Canada there is no party support for the rookies – or for the continuing elected officials for that matter. That means everyone is somewhat on their own. Each person was elected based on their ability to convince the electorate that they have earned the privilege of sitting around a council table and directing their local government over the next few years.

Earning that privilege does not automatically mean that the council member understands the job. In fact, there will be lots of newly elected people who don’t really know what local government’s role is, and who might not realize where federal and provincial responsibilities end and where municipal responsibilities begin.

That’s why the first two weeks matter so much. They set the tone for everything that follows.

New Members

The excitement of election night fades just as the realization of the new role lands heavily. The wedding has concluded and now the marriage begins. In some ways it’s been an arranged marriage because the members did not get to choose their council colleagues. Regardless, this is the team that the voters brought together. This is the team that these same voters expect to work with one another in good faith for the next three or four years.

It’s likely that the municipal executive team has been preparing for the new council to take over for months, and they have a great deal of material to provide to the new councillors-elect. This should include both onboarding and orientation.

There is a significant difference between the two.

• Onboarding covers logistics like where to park, how remuneration works, how to access email and facilities.

• Orientation builds understanding; how local government functions, what good governance looks like, and how to contribute effectively.

The difference matters. Onboarding gets people in the door. Orientation helps them do the job.

There is nuance to orientations depending on the specific municipality; however, the basics are essentially the same across the country. Good governance is good governance. Civility is civility. Team building is team building.

This post focuses on the first two weeks following the election. This is when the first council meeting will be held, when all members will be sworn in, when they ought to be asked to take a pledge of civility.

Council as an entity is an ongoing thing. The work doesn’t stop and start because the people around the table changed; the business of the municipality continues. The new council takes over where the previous council left off. The learning curve is steep.

Following the initial two weeks, there is still a great deal of learning to do. That curve remains steep and events proceed. The effort required to learn and stay up to speed is considerable. The best local representatives take this to heart.

Those who are surprised by the effort required will need to learn very quickly that they can’t get behind. Many a councillor I’ve spoken with over the years has told me they learn quickly who’s read their agenda packages and who hasn’t.

Departing Members

While we often focus solely on the people joining the council table, there are just as many people leaving. Following the election, they will find that the calls and emails slow down abruptly, the invitations cease, and they have a whole lot of time they didn’t have over the past few years. Readjusting to ‘civilian’ life can be just as awkward and disorienting as adjusting to elected life was.

Some people chose to retire and not let their name stand for election. These people are likely at peace with their decision because the outcome on election day was not a surprise. They may have other jobs lined up, they may have booked a long vacation, or they may just be relishing the slower pace that comes with the lack of demands and chicken suppers.

The people who were ‘democratically retired’ are usually not so comfortable with the outcome of the election. They are likely surprised and disappointed and not sure what to do with themselves. They found out that they didn’t have the support of the electorate when they likely thought they would be returned to office. For whatever reason they didn’t win, there will be reflection and ‘what if’ moments. Reaching out for support from family and friends and even professional counsellors is a good idea because the shock and sudden transition can be difficult to deal with.

Reflecting

A new council is a new team, regardless of if there was a wholesale change in members or if only one member was replaced. One of the early roles of the chief elected official is to focus on building that group of individuals into a team.

The importance of this process can’t be overstated. Getting off on the right foot and creating a shared focus will take longer than two weeks, but the journey of a thousand miles always begins with the first step. Norms begin to form. Relationships start to take shape. Expectations, both spoken and unspoken, take hold.

When those first interactions are constructive, respectful, and focused, councils are far better positioned to work through difficult issues later. When they are not, dysfunction can set in just as quickly.

The first two weeks after an election are more than a procedural transition. They are a defining period.

This is when new members begin to understand their role, when teams start to form, and when the tone for governance is established. It’s also when departing members begin their own transition, often with little recognition of the adjustment involved.

Much will change over a council’s term, but first impressions, early habits, and initial dynamics have a lasting impact.

Those early days deserve more attention than they often receive.

Do you have any insights about the importance of the first two weeks for new council members and for those who’ve vacated their seats?

I’d be interested in hearing about it. You can reach me at ian@strategicsteps.ca.