The first gift from the traditional Christmas stocking is always rather pleasant, and so, too, for Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford.
In 2023, this new council has gelled well especially for the first year of a term.
Credit should go to the person at the helm for setting the tone.
So, a fancy, Squamish reusable beverage thermos to Hurford tops the stocking.
Whether or not folks agree with the decisions made in chambers, a lot of work got done this year—from numerous development decisions to the historic Wa Iy̓ím ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Strong) protocol agreement between the municipality and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.
The strengthening of the relationship between the two has been underway for a few councils now, but kudos to Hurford and council for continuing that work.
A thick, colourful pair of thermal socks to Hurford for having a productive team.
(This productivity is not the case in every community. Just look to councils in Harrison Hot Springs and Kamloops, where politics have devolved into circus sideshows mostly due to their mayors.)
Hurford has also been engaged with many events in the community and is known to have meetings with regular citizens who want his ear.
Add to that the fact that he has allowed other councillors to take turns with responsibilities and to represent the council where appropriate, thus sharing the spotlight to help other councillors grow.
Mandarin oranges and XOCO treats for that.
Now we are getting to the inevitable bottom of the sock. Judging from his response during The Squamish Chief’s annual Q&A, Hurford still doesn’t seem to get that how he handles his personal financial troubles matters—because he is the mayor.
Rather than take ownership, apologize for the distraction he has caused the muni, citizens and his council, and promise it won’t happen again—the best practice for handling major fumbles—he doubled down on it being something many business owners go through. Only, he is not just another failed Squamish business owner.
He leads a complex, bustling town with a proposed $167.8-million 2024 budget. Surely, he expects the rest of us to pay our taxes to fulfill that budget?
Now, it is, in some ways, an asset to have a mayor who has tripped over his finances—the Everyman mayor, so to speak. “He’s just like us!”
But how people respond to messing up is far more important than the mistakes themselves.
Ending up on court dockets in 2023 over debts and with a (now cancelled) civil arrest warrant for not showing up to court for the latter, and then insisting it has nothing to do with being at the helm of a municipality sounds a lot like a tone deaf, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
And so, for that, he gets a small lump of coal at the bottom of his stocking.
The new year, though, offers a chance to build toward that stocking anew.
