In our ongoing effort to spotlight the experiences of women in municipal politics, we reached out to those elected in the 2022 municipal elections in Northern Ontario. We asked these newly elected councillors and trustees to share their insights and reflections on the transition from candidate to council. Here are their candid and firsthand accounts of the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned along the way.
Barbara Manson is a councillor in Kenora.
What initially inspired or motivated you to run for council, and how did you envision your role before being elected?
I was motivated and inspired as I did not like the direction Kenora was headed. I envisioned a productive and get-things-done attitude.
How did your expectations or perceptions change once you took office?
Frustration following the governance model and the slowness of government actions.
Were there any surprises or unexpected aspects of the role?
The diversity of council—both a good and bad aspect. The time it takes to accomplish goals. The lack of proper funding from the provincial and federal government in regard to infrastructure projects ([for example, bridges — which were downloaded to the Municipality) and policing costs in Kenora.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from a candidate to an elected official?
Finding the time to attend all meetings, being prepared and trying to find solutions.
What do you wish people knew about running for office, based on your own experience?
Time commitment is huge. Know how to research and defend your decisions within a diversified group of peers.
Looking back at your first year in office, what were the most rewarding aspects of serving in your municipal role?
Bringing in a budget our taxpayers could swallow, seeing the growth in housing [and] starting to solve our community and safety well-being issues.
What were the significant milestones or accomplishments you achieved during your tenure?
Hiring a Community & Safety Well-being Supervisor [and] lobbying the Provincial government to help with policing costs (which they did 2 years in a row).
On the flip side, what were the challenges you faced during your first year, and how did you navigate or address them?
Changing the mandate of our police force to more “walking the beat” hours. ([which is] still a work in progress). Starting to find solutions regarding our social issues—community formed and working on a 5-year plan.
Were there specific instances or experiences that significantly impacted your approach to governance or leadership?
Coming prepared to Council meetings, [and] rephrasing how to bring your ideas forward in regards to the personalities on Council.
What valuable lessons have you learned or insights gained that you'd like to share with others considering a similar path in politics?
Be prepared and be prepared to defend your decisions.
What do you wish people knew about working as a politician, based on your experience?
It’s harder than it seems. It is more time-consuming than you can imagine. Solutions sometimes take time, longer than you would like [and] not everyone thinks the way you do.
Where can people find you?
These profiles are part of our ongoing series featuring women councillors and trustees elected through the ElectNOW initiative. Surveys were sent to all woman councillors and trustees who participated in the 2022 ElectNOW series. While some answers have been edited for clarity and spelling, the responses provided are the candidates' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PoliticsNOW. If you are a woman councillor, mayor, or trustee residing in Northern Ontario and would like to be featured in this series, please fill out our survey.
