Arjun Singh ‘gets’ what being a City councillor is about

I had coffee with Coun. Arjun Singh Monday. Rather, I had green tea (being on a health kick lately); he had a latte.

Reason for asking him to chat was that I wanted to ask him about his “style” in this new term of office — specifically, his approach to doing the job of City councillor.

Over the years, even before he first won election to council, I’ve taken a few shots and poked some fun at Arjun. He’s very good at drawing whatever good he can from criticism, and moving on. I’ve always thought, however, that he has a sincere interest in the democratic a process and a desire to be a part of it in a way that makes things better.

No politician succeeds entirely, but the way in which they try is important. I was especially struck by the fact he took the trouble a few weeks ago to visit David Sallows, a resident (and, as it happens, a former schoolmate of mine back in high school) who had a complaint about City snow clearing.

Then, after listening to Sallows, he took his case to council for consideration. Arjun didn’t get anywhere with it with council, but he tried.

I think, overall, when it comes to understanding the job of a municipal politician, Arjun gets it. I say that because he’s figured out that a City councillor can’t expect to do the job well just by being a receptacle for complaints, dealing with whatever comes his or her way. It’s not enough just to answer emails and phone calls.

You have to seek people out, go looking for them to find out what they’re thinking about what’s going on in their community, and how they think it could be better. Arjun does that in several ways. For example, he views appearances at public events as not just an opportunity to see and be seen, or to fulfill an obligation of office, but as an opportunity to engage people and talk to them about civic issues.

His “100 conversations” as a lead-up to the election might have sounded like a campaign ploy to some people but it was a creative way to make contact with all demographics in our community and get ideas about what people want from local government.

When he reads is weekly council-meeting agenda, he’s on the lookout for clues to where he can get a better feel for what’s worrying people, things that go beyond the official reports.

He is, in short, putting structure into what he does as a councillor. In effect, he’s working on a system for getting the job done.

Just as important as all that is the realization — which I wasn’t sure was there when he first ran for council — that civic politicians answer to such a broad constituency, one with so many different backgrounds, experiences and biases, that whenever you make a decision you are bound to displease some people.

You can’t escape it. The key is that, before you make those decisions, you’ve done your best to understand all points of view.

It was worth the price of coffee to listen to Arjun confirm all that. (And, after he’s been invited to an event or been asked to meet with you, he follows up with a phone call, rather than the usual email, thanking you for giving him some of your time. Nice touch.)