In 2005, I ran for Coquitlam city council. I was young - at least younger - and promised more police officers, more sports fields and lower property taxes.
They were all great ideas but were they doable?
To be honest, I didn't have a clue. I had no idea of how the process really worked and whether my promises could be accomplished.
It's funny, I see similar grandiose platforms being put out by some of the 11 candidates vying for two seats in a Coquitlam city council byelection to be held tomorrow (Saturday).
I have no doubt that most of the candidates have strong convictions and really want to effect positive change in our community. But I think - especially in civic politics, which is quite a different animal from provincial and federal politics - experience matters.
We need city councillors who understand the process of getting bylaws passed. We need people who know how to build consensus and folks capable of balancing scarce revenue streams within a budget of some $200 million.
And just as importantly, we need people who have an intimate knowledge of our community needs.
When I ran for a seat on council, I knocked on doors from noon to 8 p.m. every day leading up to the election. I don't remember most of the people I met - it's all a blur now - but I do remember one woman: Marj, who lived in Maillardville.
She told me she wouldn't be voting for me because she had never heard of me. She said I wasn't involved with any community groups and she hadn't seen me at any events or council meetings. Essentially, she said that while I was politically active, I didn't "know Coquitlam." She told me I could have her vote in 2008 if I got more involved in my community over the next three years.
While I may have silently cursed her at the time, her words rang true to me in 2008 when I ultimately decided not to run again.
In this byelection, I'm going to heed her advice again. I'll be voting for people who "know" Coquitlam. I'll mark my ballot next to experienced candidates and those who have a clue about planning and managing major budgets - in other words, better candidates than I was.
