(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 19, 2014 - 7:44 AM
As we head into civic elections this year, most politicians try to keep their heads down, avoid controversy and charm voters. But Coun. Donovan Cavers—never shy about voicing his opinions and feelings—seems to be taking the contrarian view. He's getting more vocal.
In each of the past two council meetings, Cavers has spoken out against the stream of council and earned either a stern rebuke (environmental assessment office), or some confused looks (parking lot for the new John Tod community centre.)
Of course these aren't even his most controversial statements. Remember his war of words with the general public on Twitter? When he publicly called Ajax hires ‘sellouts’? When he called council duty a ‘hobby’? Or when he most recently called a provincial employee ‘incompetent’?
Cavers has been no stranger to stirring the pot as an elected official. Earlier in his term, his antics got a shrug and most people thought it was simple inexperience from the only councillor under 30. That this continues two months before the election suggests, no—this is what we get.
The question is whether this will actually hurt him or bolster him this November. You might think some of his cringe-worthy statements will certainly get him booted, to others this is exactly what they expect and want. Perhaps the anti-Ajax crowd and others appreciate the pull-no-punches attitude and like that he says what they feel, juvenile or not.
It's the dichotomy of the man and those who like him, a love-hate relationship. How many are in the love side of the ledger? We'll find out following the Nov. 15 municipal election.
To contact a reporter, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014