Emergency landing No injuries as plane engine erupts in flame. PAGE 13 Hartnell down NHLer and sister pen children’s book on adversity. PAGE 35 Double time Nanaimo Clippers need two extra periods to close out win. PAGE 3
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013
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VOL. 25, NO. 75
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Youth in politics Reporter Tamara Cunningham investigates how youth influences politics at the municipal level during this two-part, multimedia series on Youth in Politics. Today, three young councillors from Nanaimo and Lantzville share their experiences working to represent the people at the council table.
W
hen rookie candidate George Anderson launched his election campaign three years ago, he knew his youth would be a tough sell. Members of the voting public were already making it clear that at 20, he was too young to win a power seat. Anderson said they seemed to have a picture of the typical politician and it was the polar opposite of an employed, young, Vancouver Island University student. He expected some legwork during his campaign to convince the public age isn’t everything. When he won the election, finishing fourth ahead of seasoned city councillors, he knew he’d have to work harder than anyone to prove voters made the right choice. What he didn’t count on was a new kind of barrier at city hall – age discrimination. “I wasn’t even sworn in as a councillor before my age was brought up,” said Anderson. “I knew I’d have challenges in regards to my age ... but I did not expect it to the degree I have experienced it on council, especially from elected officials. I would have expected [them] to be, in a sense, adults about it.” According to the region’s civic leaders and young politicians, those under 40 are challenged to be seen as equals by their older peers, despite earning the right to sit at the council table. It’s considered an obstacle for rookie
Young councillors struggle to gain colleagues’ respect despite strong work ethic
The next generation of political leaders CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
George Anderson, 23-year-old member of Nanaimo city council, left, with Lantzville councillors Jennifer Millbank, 37, and Andrew Mostad, 25, are taking a stand to be treated as equals by their peers and respected for the skills and ideas they bring to the table.
politicians, who are encouraged to get involved in politics and share ideas for change on one hand but are faced with dismissiveness and discrimination by their colleagues on the other. They report an experience-trumpsage attitude and pervasive feeling of being less respected – like being referred to by first names instead of the formal titles other councillors use for each other and seeing their opinions given less weight or consideration. Some councillors have faced intimidation or outright shots at their age. In a February meeting, Nanaimo city councillor Bill Bestwick told the gallery
he’d let a point raised by Anderson go “with youthful ignorance” while Coun. Jim Kipp said he wasn’t prepared to be lectured to by “my 22-year-old.” Even the mayor, who promised to give the top vote-getters in the election a coveted seat on the Regional District of Nanaimo board thought twice about appointing Anderson because of his inexperience. The mayor said he was concerned the university student’s grades would slip and questioned if he’d be able to balance school with civic and regional affairs simultaneously when he didn’t have the training. The same attitudes and comments
wouldn’t be made to another, older councillor, said Anderson, who questions why age should be a factor at all. It’s like bringing up the colour of someone’s skin or hair or opting not to listen because someone is a woman or has a different sexual orientation. “I see it as exactly the same,” Anderson said. It is not only setting the wrong tone for the community, but could deter youth from getting involved in politics, he said, adding it’s time for ageist attitudes to end. Lantzville councillors Andrew Mostad, 25, and Jennifer Millbank, 37, agree. ◆ See ‘YOUNG’ /7
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