Former town councillor Ed Sands says council politics can be ever as delicate as castles of sand.

"Play nice in the sandbox."

With an almost entirely new slate of Okotoks councillors, Sands imparted a few pearls of wisdom from his 26 years as a municipal politician.

Laurie Hodson, a town councillor from previous years, once gave him some good advice about cultivating relations with other councillors at the table.

"When you leave the council table at the end of the day, the only friends you might have might be the ones around the council table because you might have come up with an unpopular decision," says Sands.

He also advises council to be aware of their specific role in the town.

"When you're town council, you're not expected to do. You're expected to have the vision. You're expected to steer. You're not expected to paddle. And in that governance focus, sometimes that's the hard thing. So set the vision, and let the specialists do the work."

As far as initiatives and goals, it's good to treat them like the ebb and flow of the tide.

"Don't necessarily get too tied to any of your projects or any of your decisions. You're representing the public. You're representing citizens, and it's not your show. If they don't like what a project is, off to the next project."

It's also important to watch over your personal life, says Sands.

"Look after your health. Look after your relationships. Look after your marriage, and make sure that you don't forget that part of your life when you're devoting all the time to council."

Related: Ed Sands Hanging Up His Hat

 

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