A Tale of Two Classes of Councillors

Monday's final council meeting of the 2010-2014 term was a contrast in class. 

On one hand, we heard from Mayor-challenger Dorian Baxter with a moving thank you to the two councillors leaving on December first.  It was the speech that Mayor Tony Van Bynen should have given. 

Baxter was also the first to stand in an ovation after Chris Emanuel and Maddie Di Muccio shared their final comments to council.  A stark contrast to Tony Van Bynen's behaviour.  After Councillor Di Muccio's speech, the Mayor refused to even clap.  Such a small and petty (and dare I say it, misogynist?) man. 

And the speeches of Councillors Emanuel and Di Muccio didn't compare.  Whereas Councillor Emanuel used his time (between theatrical sobs) to continue to attack those with the temerity to speak in opposition to the will of the gruesome-twosome bloc, Councillor Di Muccio spoke with grace and humility.  She was appreciative of those who helped her, naming certain staff members for special recognition, and she encouraged ordinary people to become involved.  Unlike Emanuel who focused on himself exclusively, she honoured all the candidates in the past election (despite the fact that some of them attacked her during the campaign).  She spoke eloquently, if not self deprecatingly, about being a stay-at-home-mom who got a chance to make a difference.   Emanuel spoke from a written text.  Di Muccio spoke without a pre-written speech and her sincerity shone through. 

What the lasting image of this term of council should be for Newmarket residents is the contrast in the behaviour of those council members who will be returning on December 1st.  While they all fawned over Councillor Emanuel, not a single one of them would even shake hands with Councillor Di Muccio. 

The message could not be clearer.  Newmarket is THEIR town.  Not yours.