Alex Munter As City Manager Could Have Been Fun
Alex Munter just took himself out of the race for the vacant city manager post a few days after he sort of got into the competition.
The head of the Childrens’ Hospital of Eastern Ontario and former Kanata councillor no doubt would have done a good job. The Munter I knew from many years past was smart, moral, ethical, strong, even a bit brave, and competent. He has leadership ability and even a bit of charisma in the little pond that is local Ottawa. That said, charisma in Ottawa is wearing your hat at a jaunty angle.
But Munter did what was best for Munter. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s what most people do.
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Was his decision what’s best for the City of Ottawa? Perhaps not, but a hire is always a gamble. Sometimes you get the wrong person or an employee changes for the worse. It happens. Hiring is at best an educated guess. Or perhaps a crap shoot.
Still, Munter was a very strong candidate. But in talking briefly to a person who knows that job as well as anyone, that person said it will take a Herculean effort to succeed. The city is a mess in most every way. Really, it’s quite an accomplishment. A lot of organizations couldn’t reach that gruesome state.
What Munter had to do is change a culture that has degraded over the last 16 years to level abysmal. The city that Munter knew has gone so far backwards that the ex-councillor might not recognize it. In fact, the cultural and ethical decline is so profound on Laurier Avenue that bringing it back to a level 16 years ago might be impossible for one man. One wonders what reforming it could do to the health of Munter, who is 55 now, not 25.
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But then Munter played a big part in moving forward gay acceptance in this community. That was a Herculean effort, too.
Furthermore, maybe the powers that be both in front and behind the scenes aren’t ready for someone who is smart, moral, ethical, strong, even a bit brave, and competent. It could cramp their style.
Munter has chosen the side of the angels helping out the kids at CHEO. Nothing wrong with heading up that great organization. He can help on a microcosmic scale at the hospital rather than the macrocosmic scale of the city manager.
Nevertheless, Alex Munter as city manager is an interesting idea and would have been fascinating to watch.
Maybe next time.
Best of luck at CHEO, Alex.
Ken Gray
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Without a doubt, Alex Munter would have been great to see on Board. He has given much consideration to this and, I believe, has made the best decision for himself and his family.