Editor:
I’ve known people in elected office at all levels of government, including a longtime friend who is a rural area director on the Sunshine Coast, thus my interest in your question of the week (“Are SCRD directors paid fairly?”). For many years, I’ve held the opinion that such local government officials are underpaid and overworked. Few voters actually seem to take an active interest in their own situation, except to complain about their elected officials and label them with unfortunate phrases such as “fat cat politicians.”
Every person I’ve known who assumed elected office has literally been run off their feet meeting their responsibilities. While I believe they should be paid more for giving up their entire lives to serve the public, provincial and federal elected representatives are reasonably well compensated. At the local government level, however, remuneration is completely insufficient. I see the huge number of hours put in, the long days, the seven-day weeks that stretch on for a month, the endless meetings attended – many of which are unpaid. The expectation that our leaders will give up their weekends and evenings to attend so many community activities that are scheduled is unrealistic, and yet, attend they do.
Few people are willing to take on an elected office, and even fewer young people, but those who do, even to a supposedly part-time role like that of an area director, find it consumes them. Anyone who believes the work entails just a weekly meeting with a couple of committee activities thrown in for good measure is sorely mistaken. Prep time, research, reading up on the issues, talking with stakeholders, handling phone calls and emails from involved citizens, participating in local and regional committee activities and hearings, travelling the length and breadth of their area and beyond – all these and more require elected people to put their regular lives on hold for the duration of their term.
Thus I suggest compensation for these people should be increased significantly to allow them to focus their efforts on what, for many, is now a full-time job. Because of this, a more realistic livable compensation will encourage more people to embrace public life. Everyone strives for a fair day’s wage for fair work. Elected representatives should expect no less for their dedication to task.
Brian Antonson, Mission
