Thinking about running for council? Here’s why it matters

Lukas Oakley

Paris Independent Contributor

In the February 4th edition of the Paris Independent, I spoke about the various barriers and things stopping people from running for office, and what we can do to help alleviate those issues. But I wanted today to talk about the role that I have come to love and has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life (after marrying my wife, of course!). Though with its challenges, like anything worth doing, being a member of council is a deeply important and impactful role, well suited to you if you deeply care about your community.

Being an elected official, whether Mayor or councillor, presents you with the opportunity to make meaningful and positive changes in your community. That's not to say change cannot be affected by activism, volunteerism, and more; but it is the political cadre that ultimately sits at the levers of power to finalize the change called for by the community. Three years ago, activists, service providers, and survivors of gender based, and intimate partner violence came to our council chambers to ask us to help. Working with these community partners, I was able to bring forward a motion that the County step up and fill that gap, making real, actual change for vulnerable members of our community to connect to services. This is just one example of the types of action you as an elected councillor would be able to take to meaningfully improve your community. Are you passionate about the environment? Well, you could help our municipality invest in green energy projects or ensure our county facilities are built to a net Zero standard or maintain our urban boundaries against expansion. Are you passionate about heritage? My colleagues, Councillor John MacAlpine and Steve Councillor Howes are, and they are a voice around our council table to ensure we invest in protecting our heritage buildings and funding our historical societies. What about protecting the fiscal sustainability and responsibility of our government? That's been the project of my colleague John Councillor Bell, who has been pushing for a long-term financial plan and longer forecast budgets for his two terms on council and has come to fruition this past budget.

You may not win every vote (goodness knows, I've lost as many battles as I've won), and the government moves slower than I think we would like but by running for council ensures your perspective is heard. And we need to hear your perspective. When I was elected in 2022, I became the youngest elected councillor in the history of our municipality at 26. I am thirteen years younger than the next youngest person on council, which means I have a unique perspective on council as someone from Gen Z. We have representation from four different generations on council (Zoomers to boomers), which means we have a wide variety of life experiences and generational priorities to draw on. My colleagues don't have the same understanding of what someone in their 20’s is struggling with in 2026 as I do, nor do I have the same depth of understanding as what our seniors are experiencing today.

Council also provides a unique experience of being able to tackle some very complex problems, ones with no clear-cut right answer. Things like the homelessness crisis, how to prioritize between funds to clear our roads in the winter or funding senior recreational programs. If you like problem solving, innovating, and more, I think you will find a lot of joy and satisfaction in this role. I know I do. Certainly, the role requires appreciation and the navigation of the art of compromise. Take the recent decision, and eventually compromise, around Paris Drinks Fest, or the approval of the eight-story apartment on Court Drive, as examples. There is no right answer; it's a balancing act of the competing interests.  Furthermore, being an elected official is an excellent opportunity to meet and collaborate with many amazing and talented people, whether it’s from within council, county staff, the community, and further afield. There are also many opportunities to work with broader organizations and elected officials from other municipalities to solve shared issues. Organizations like SCOR (South Central Ontario Region) EDC or WOWC (Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus) have led to great advocacy opportunities or simply provided a chance to meet other councillors advocating shared priorities. I’ve had the pleasure of working with great folks like Councillor Bernia Martin from Oxford County, Mayor Amy Martin from Norfolk County, or Alysson Storey from Chatham-Kent; brilliant minds from nearby communities who have experienced and solved issues we now experience. No need to reinvent the wheel!

Lastly, as a part of council you have a far greater impact on the future of the community than you might think. The greatest impact of today’s council will be felt in the County of Brant of 2036, even though we serve in 2026. The arc of government is long, and the decisions we make now shape what choices will be available a decade from today. The council of 2012 approved the previous Official Plan that forecasted the growth we now see come to fruition today. Our council this term approved the 2023 Official Plan and the various infrastructures that will create the future of St George in 2036. Your decisions as councillor will have great long-term impacts on the community that we care about. There have been times this term when I’ve cursed our past councillors for a decision made many years ago, and times when I am very pleased, they had the foresight to make the right decision. We don’t always get it right, and hindsight is 20/20, but a good member of council should always try to keep the future impacts in mind.

Taken together, my last piece and this one were meant to capture both the challenges and the rewards of serving as a municipal councillor. There are few jobs that allow one the diversity of experiences and ability to affect change like a municipal councillor. To run for office, the only prerequisite is a passion for your community, to live within the borders of the municipality, and to be a Canadian citizen. If you want to guide our future, I hope that you consider running in 2026, or a future election.