Small P and Large P Politics and the F Word

  Chapter 2.2 Motivations: Issues   While “duty” and “responsibility” dominated the responses and all the respondents would likely say they were doing it “out of the goodness of their hearts,” other features were also listed as motivating factors. These factors were less vague than “personal responsibility to the community,” and included advocacy on particular issues, a desire to make a difference, and concerns regarding democratic representation on council. Issue Advocacy: Given the background of councillors in volunteer work that includes charities, community boards and committees, and advocacy organizations and campaigns, I tis not surprising that many would point to specific issues as motivating factors. As a councillor on the Waterloo regional government put it, “I turned down invitations to run for the Green Party and the NDP and decided I would stop using a preference for regional office as an excuse and actually run for it. I had been an advocate for a long t...

  CHAPTER 2: MOTIVATIONS   The first question   councillors   were asked was: why did you choose to run for office? The purpose was to establish the motivating factors that brought women to elected office at the local level. Reponses were less varied than anticipated, showing a clear pattern of commitment to   making a contribution   to the local community through service and representation. Reasons for running were generally multiple, combining ideas of service with making a difference, bringing change to council through representation; a number were simply angry with Council because of   particular issues , misrepresentation, and/or perceived lack of transparency and corruption. The following table covers the motivations and reflects the pattern given in the responses.   Chapter 2.1: COMMUNITY SERVICE   I start with a discussion of “community service,” because it is such a dominant reason given in the responses. The primary reason given for...

This is the first installment in a series exploring the motivations and ambitions of women municipal councillors in Ontario. It is based on data collected through email from a 116 women municipal councillors serving between 2016 and 2020. “This is where I do my work” Women Municipal Councillors in Ontario   I chose the local level because this is where I feel I have the most to offer (Georgian Bluffs) I chose to run for office for a few reasons. In hindsight, ignorance also played a role in the decision, I was unaware of some of the reasons not to run for office!  Reasons for:  disappointment in some of the decisions made by previous municipal councils; lack of representation of youth/working age residents on council; interest in politics in general; plans to live in the community long term which I felt would benefit from involvement in local politics earlier rather than later in lif e (Rideau Lakes). What do we know about women who become municipal councill...