Politics And Publicity, Say It Ain’t So: GRAY

When Beacon Hill-Cyrville Councillor Tim Tierney got a tattoo of his favourite band Nickelback on his arm, everybody knew about it.

How was that? A lot of people don’t let the community know they just got a tattoo. Even fewer call the media to say they are so decorated.

What was Tierney doing? He was campaigning even though his tattoo was etched nowhere near an election.

You see, politicians campaign all the time. For example, there was naming Ottawa the shawarma capital of Canada (perhaps national capital wasn’t enough); tossing highway safety cones; holding a contest to name snowplows; holding a contest to name LRT cars (they’ve been named quite a few things since they failed to work, most of which can’t be repeated here); and more.

Were these stunts part of civic policy? Well of course not. But they got politicians’ names and pictures in the media. And that is the point. The best thing incumbent politicians have going for them at election time is name recognition in the voters booth. Neil Saravanamuttoo or Mark Sutcliffe … who has the upper hand?

So when the CBC asks the mayor if his youth homelessness project is also part of his campaign, he says no. It’s part of being the mayor. And it is part of being mayor. Mayor’s campaign all year long … year in and year out.

For example, come playoff time, you’d see former mayor Jim Watson wearing an Ottawa Senators sweater, not that the mayor would know a hockey puck from an aircraft carrier but that didn’t stop him. Unfortunately making tacky bets with the opposing team city’s mayor is also part of being mayor (Ottawa beavertails versus Buffalo wings). Or going to bake sales (what is the city policy on bake sales?).

Give credit where credit is due. At least Sutcliffe’s homelessness issue is part of city policy unlike getting Nickelback tattoos. It’s probably just a coincidence that’s the issue is occurring during an election campaign. Mayors must continue to be mayors and that includes shameless advertising during election campaigns.

You know, like the mayor’s senior breakfasts or raising a flag at Ottawa City Hall to the Ottawa Charge. Policy no. Publicity yes. At least fighting youth homelessness is policy (during an election campaign). It’s just mixing publicity and politics. Hardly a unique combination. It’s like throwing a purpose pitch near the batter’s melon in a baseball game (sorry Jim Watson, you’ll need to go elsewhere for a definition on that one … let’s just say it happened during an Eastern League World Series).

So sure politicians use policy for publicity in election campaigns. They kiss babies and grandmas, too. You’d wish they’d stop but they can’t. And they won’t admit it. It’s in the DNA.

Get used to it.

Ken Gray is the editor of The Bulldog.

More Ottawa News:

Palliative Care Access In Doubt: POLL

Don’t Let Sutcliffe Near Trains: GRAY

What’s Critical In An Election Campaign: CRERAR

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