There was some teeth gnashing on Sunday and Monday about the political left turn Prince George city council appears to have taken in Saturday's election but it's really just sour grapes from a small group of political and business players that had gotten used to having their way in recent elections.
This in-crowd, of which Don Zurowski is a member, is made up of B.C. Liberals, self-styled movers and shakers, small-c conservatives with money and time to burn on political campaigns. In 2011, the group worked tirelessly and invested heavily to make sure Shari Green defeated incumbent Dan Rogers.
Green and Stolz reflected this group's political views, as well as their mindset, on city council - fiercely partisan, pro-business, pro-development, anti-labour. Compromise is for weaklings, victory comes from staying on the attack, loyalty above all and if people aren't with you, then they're against you.
That bare-knuckle politics served Green poorly during her term of office and it cost Stolz his council seat Saturday. They and their backers forgot that Green's victory in 2011 had as much to do with frustration with Rogers as it was a mandate for Green. The members of this political cool kids club ignored a central fact that crosses political boundaries - voters choose candidates not just because they like them but also because they like the other folks even less, a lesson new mayor Lyn Hall and the three new councillors - Jillian Merrick, Terri McConnachie and Susan Scott - would be wise to remember.
Meanwhile, the hard feelings from the losing camp were on full display Saturday night. Zurowski's campaign manager, Terry Kuzma, didn't show the "grace and dignity" he said Zurowski showed in his concession speech. Instead, Kuzma encouraged Hall to have Zurowski by his side as an advisor.
Really?
If Hall's campaign manager Michelle Marelli had made the same request if Zurowski had won, she would have been met with derisive laughter.
Other Zurowski supporters were even more bitter in their comments. Dennis Jackson said Hall sat on the fence during his three years as a city councillor, a comment that doesn't match Hall's voting record, and chalked up Saturday's loss to a left-wing vote towards candidates with union support.
Typical.
When pro-business money sways elections, that's fair play but when the union-backed candidates get elected, well, that's just not fair.
Furthermore, it doesn't match reality and it dismisses the sophistication of local voters.
The right-wing crowd has a bad habit of seeing everyone outside of their camp as being to their left, even when there's little evidence to support their case. Hall, as well as incumbents Frizzell and Skakun, are moderates, political pragmatists who make decisions based on merits, not partisan relationships, and sometimes those decisions align themselves with the right-wingers, sometimes not.
Incumbent Albert Koehler, a passionate fiscal conservative if there ever was, showed how kind-and-gentle conservatism is more appreciated by all voters, regardless of political stripe. He retained his seat because of his friendly disposition and his eagerness to work with everyone, especially the people who don't agree with him.
Fortunately, the candidate got it right Saturday.
"Our community is more inclined to thrive when we get behind our local government," Zurowski said. That was a generous statement made in what must of have been an evening of intense disappointment for a proud man who has worked hard for the betterment of Prince George.
His words are wise and true.
Voters elected a mayor and city council Saturday night that, to a person, have shown themselves to be devoted to listening and to collaboration over partisan loyalty and political ideology.
Starting Dec. 1, it will be time for Hall and his colleagues to start delivering on the challenging task of delivering on their potential and their promise.
