Swapping Mayor McDougall for MLA Mombo?—E55 [VIDEO]

Joe Ward Follow Me

Posted this 2023-11-05 10:18 AM AST

Episode 55 of a Cape Breton Podcast with Joe Ward, Boxer Shorts Media.

When the Cape Breton Post's Ian Nathanson recently pressed CBRM mayor and councillors on their intentions for the next election, MLA Derek Mombourquette was mentioned as a person with rumoured interest. As I've recently showcased the cozy relationship between Mayor McDougall-Merrill and several members of the Liberal Party (provincially, federally, or retired), I wouldn't expect to see a head-to-head mayoral campaign from these two. My hypothesis is that the only way Mombourquette would actually make a mayoral bid would be if McDougall stepped aside. And, one way for her to do that would be to swap with Mombourquette, making a run for his relatively safe Liberal seat in Sydney-Membertou. Unclear intentions lead to various thought experiments; here's one possibility—a long shot.

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Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-11-06 7:25 AM AST Reply 2 0 Our current mayor,Clarke and Mombourquette have proven over and over again that they are useless.Best to put them on the first cruise ship next season for a long trip with our thank you's and best wishes and then we can actually vote in some dynamic person with goals,energy,a jug of truth serum and guts. Oh....did I mention personality and connections? Wouldn't that be different? Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 1:35 PM AST Reply 0 0 I think ex-MLAs make terrible mayoral choices, because it sort of reflects their desire for a smooth transition to retirement, more so than a real passion for taking on the challenges. The first four we have to keep an eye on are McDougall-Merrill, Cecil Clarke, Derek Mombourquette, and Geoff MacLellan. Clarke is probably the most eager, but is stuck in political exile. He took the big risks and hit a wall. He miscalculated big time. McDougall-Merrill has probably had enough of the CBRM, but probably thinks the mulligan would be best at another level of gov. Consider Coombes who pulled off one term as councillor, and then won as MLA. Geoff MacLellan has always wanted to be home in Cape Breton. I think he's sincere about that. That's just a terrible primary objective for being mayor. I don't expect anything extraordinary from ex-MLAs, but his key advantage is charisma, a category in which he outshines all of the rest with McDougall taking 2nd place from a lap or two behind. Mombourquette didn't step up to go for party leadership, but didn't quit the party. He lingered, has himself stuck in limbo with the NS Liberal Party that's going nowhere fast. And now might just prefer taking it easy at home for a higher salary. All you have to do is take the heat in the CBRM. It's not like they're getting that much done. And the administration would keep rolling on, even if mayor and council never came to work. They kinda just keep rolling on as if mayor and council don't come to work anyway. Between Clarke, and McDougall-Merrill, best off staying with McDougall-Merrill. Clarke is too much of a regression, and Houston probably dislikes him more than McDougall. Between Mombo and MacLellan, pick MacLellan. Of the four, pick none. Time for another shake-up. Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-11-06 2:10 PM AST Reply 0 0 GEOFF: He's a friend of Houston who plucked him out of the opposition Liberals and plunked him into a deputy minister's job,friend of Roger Cuzner and in fact worked for him,friend of Dingwall and worked at CBU,got friends and connections in high places all over and is extremely gutsy and charasmatic. People like that don't come along that often.I know very little about politics but a person with a resume like that may just do the trick for us. Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 3:11 PM AST Reply 1 0 I don't know. I think a person like that might just "do the trick for" Houston, Cuzner, Dingwall, and his friends and connections "in high places all over". ;) P.S. I think Houston just used him in a smart political play that made him seem open-minded, maybe dampened criticism on some of his other appointments (friends), and caused upset and greater discord in the Liberal Party. I'm 99% certain they had a good laugh about pulling that move—especially when the Libs took the bait. https://youtu.be/sgLQQ86F8e4?si=-Q_asgX_n2wB3bKG&t=114 Mike Johnson Follow Me 2023-11-06 4:28 PM AST Reply 1 0 I've had extensive exposure to G Mac, and he may have superficial charisma, but no guts at all and is prone to prevarication. And he is easily used or influenced, and nowhere near strong enough for the job. He was used by Clarke to get Bill 84 passed, and the ridiculous subsidy to G&W started. He was used by Zach Churchill to create the Yarmouth Ferry fiasco, and then completely mismanaged it. And as Joe points out correctly, he was used as a 'front man' by Houston to deflect Liberal criticism for his HRM housing strategy. On the other hand, when the Citizens for Healthcare confronted them both in G's office, Mumblesquette literally hid behind G Mac. CBRM needs to stop recycling ineffectual politicans. The Mayor's job may be the most difficult in the Province. You have no money, no tax room to raise any, llttle autonomy, terrible demographics, a citizenry who are intentionally uninformed, (and with little pride left) plus crushing social challenges. It would be a test for the strongest 'turnaround' specilaist from business and has been overwhelming or unrecognized by those that we keep electing. Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 5:06 PM AST Reply 0 0 Great points, Mike. I watched Derek Mombourquette's statements during Law Amendments for Bill 340, and again in the Legislature discussing the bill. I think I can see his development over the years, and, in my opinion, given that he doesn't have the same charisma as MacLellan, he's done a good job avoiding his limitations and morphing into a role where he presents as a highly confident voice of reason—without saying a whole lot. And, when I say "good job", I'm speaking in terms of his own personal and career development, not what he offers his constituents. The whole "for home" language pattern is like hypnosis, ha ha. The politically non-astute hear that and think he must be a good fella, 'cause whatever the heck he's doin', he's doin' 'er for home, eh. It's a cheat code. It takes some audacity to carefully work around supporting the CBRM in asking for a large equalization transfer or wiping out more fees (education), knowing fully well that he was one of the guys that wouldn't support doing the same, and limited them to an even worse deal than Bill 340. While he can argue they invested big time in infrastructure (even if overdue), the Houston government is continuing those investments and still offered a tiny bit of concessions with Bill 340, versus the nothing the McNeil gov would do. He played on "have the conversation", to avoid simply endorsing everything the CBRM wants that he would never have given them, and didn't, while in power. Mombourquette, IMO, would be a particularly ****** mayor. But, most ex-MLAs, I'd lump into that category. Mike Johnson Follow Me 2023-11-07 1:20 AM AST Reply 0 0 I got the Bill Number wrong; the Barbusci Bill was #85 which i mentioned in a reply to Mathieu last week. But yes, Mumbles of Mombo would be no better than G Mac, and even more duplicitous.

Depth

Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-11-06 7:25 AM AST

Reply 2 0

Our current mayor,Clarke and Mombourquette have proven over and over again that they are useless.Best to put them on the first cruise ship next season for a long trip with our thank you's and best wishes and then we can actually vote in some dynamic person with goals,energy,a jug of truth serum and guts. Oh....did I mention personality and connections? Wouldn't that be different?

Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 1:35 PM AST

Reply 0 0

I think ex-MLAs make terrible mayoral choices, because it sort of reflects their desire for a smooth transition to retirement, more so than a real passion for taking on the challenges. The first four we have to keep an eye on are McDougall-Merrill, Cecil Clarke, Derek Mombourquette, and Geoff MacLellan. Clarke is probably the most eager, but is stuck in political exile. He took the big risks and hit a wall. He miscalculated big time. McDougall-Merrill has probably had enough of the CBRM, but probably thinks the mulligan would be best at another level of gov. Consider Coombes who pulled off one term as councillor, and then won as MLA. Geoff MacLellan has always wanted to be home in Cape Breton. I think he's sincere about that. That's just a terrible primary objective for being mayor. I don't expect anything extraordinary from ex-MLAs, but his key advantage is charisma, a category in which he outshines all of the rest with McDougall taking 2nd place from a lap or two behind. Mombourquette didn't step up to go for party leadership, but didn't quit the party. He lingered, has himself stuck in limbo with the NS Liberal Party that's going nowhere fast. And now might just prefer taking it easy at home for a higher salary. All you have to do is take the heat in the CBRM. It's not like they're getting that much done. And the administration would keep rolling on, even if mayor and council never came to work. They kinda just keep rolling on as if mayor and council don't come to work anyway. Between Clarke, and McDougall-Merrill, best off staying with McDougall-Merrill. Clarke is too much of a regression, and Houston probably dislikes him more than McDougall. Between Mombo and MacLellan, pick MacLellan. Of the four, pick none. Time for another shake-up.

Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-11-06 2:10 PM AST

Reply 0 0

GEOFF: He's a friend of Houston who plucked him out of the opposition Liberals and plunked him into a deputy minister's job,friend of Roger Cuzner and in fact worked for him,friend of Dingwall and worked at CBU,got friends and connections in high places all over and is extremely gutsy and charasmatic. People like that don't come along that often.I know very little about politics but a person with a resume like that may just do the trick for us.

Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 3:11 PM AST

Reply 1 0

I don't know. I think a person like that might just "do the trick for" Houston, Cuzner, Dingwall, and his friends and connections "in high places all over". ;) P.S. I think Houston just used him in a smart political play that made him seem open-minded, maybe dampened criticism on some of his other appointments (friends), and caused upset and greater discord in the Liberal Party. I'm 99% certain they had a good laugh about pulling that move—especially when the Libs took the bait. https://youtu.be/sgLQQ86F8e4?si=-Q_asgX_n2wB3bKG&t=114

Mike Johnson Follow Me 2023-11-06 4:28 PM AST

Reply 1 0

I've had extensive exposure to G Mac, and he may have superficial charisma, but no guts at all and is prone to prevarication. And he is easily used or influenced, and nowhere near strong enough for the job. He was used by Clarke to get Bill 84 passed, and the ridiculous subsidy to G&W started. He was used by Zach Churchill to create the Yarmouth Ferry fiasco, and then completely mismanaged it. And as Joe points out correctly, he was used as a 'front man' by Houston to deflect Liberal criticism for his HRM housing strategy. On the other hand, when the Citizens for Healthcare confronted them both in G's office, Mumblesquette literally hid behind G Mac. CBRM needs to stop recycling ineffectual politicans. The Mayor's job may be the most difficult in the Province. You have no money, no tax room to raise any, llttle autonomy, terrible demographics, a citizenry who are intentionally uninformed, (and with little pride left) plus crushing social challenges. It would be a test for the strongest 'turnaround' specilaist from business and has been overwhelming or unrecognized by those that we keep electing.

Joe Ward My Post Follow Me 2023-11-06 5:06 PM AST

Reply 0 0

Great points, Mike. I watched Derek Mombourquette's statements during Law Amendments for Bill 340, and again in the Legislature discussing the bill. I think I can see his development over the years, and, in my opinion, given that he doesn't have the same charisma as MacLellan, he's done a good job avoiding his limitations and morphing into a role where he presents as a highly confident voice of reason—without saying a whole lot. And, when I say "good job", I'm speaking in terms of his own personal and career development, not what he offers his constituents. The whole "for home" language pattern is like hypnosis, ha ha. The politically non-astute hear that and think he must be a good fella, 'cause whatever the heck he's doin', he's doin' 'er for home, eh. It's a cheat code. It takes some audacity to carefully work around supporting the CBRM in asking for a large equalization transfer or wiping out more fees (education), knowing fully well that he was one of the guys that wouldn't support doing the same, and limited them to an even worse deal than Bill 340. While he can argue they invested big time in infrastructure (even if overdue), the Houston government is continuing those investments and still offered a tiny bit of concessions with Bill 340, versus the nothing the McNeil gov would do. He played on "have the conversation", to avoid simply endorsing everything the CBRM wants that he would never have given them, and didn't, while in power. Mombourquette, IMO, would be a particularly ****** mayor. But, most ex-MLAs, I'd lump into that category.

Mike Johnson Follow Me 2023-11-07 1:20 AM AST

Reply 0 0

I got the Bill Number wrong; the Barbusci Bill was #85 which i mentioned in a reply to Mathieu last week. But yes, Mumbles of Mombo would be no better than G Mac, and even more duplicitous.