The News puts critical questions to candidates in the civic election. This week, we talked to John Douglas. Nest week, we pin the candidates down with another critical question.
Question: You’re more assertive now than you have been in the last three years. Why weren’t you more assertive as a councillor?
John Douglas: Firstly, I had a steep learning curve to climb when I became a councillor and I couldn’t imagine becoming mayor without that curve. I see a lack of assertiveness on council.
Secondly, I may have been perceived that way but we worked as a team in council and spoke through one voice.
And it may be that the media is just listening a lot closer to me now than before. It’s a balance between assertiveness and working together while respecting each others’ opinions.
I may not have spoken out loudly then, but now is the time to be heard and make it heard what direction we want to go in.