Are You Waterloo’s Next Mayor?

Election Day 2014 is just a blur. After months of knocking on doors and talking at doorsteps all across Waterloo, the goal of the final day is to remind supporters that today is Election Day and to “get out the vote”!

On Election Day, my wife Jan and I nervously waited at Waterloo Inn. Thanks to the efforts of my campaign team, around 8 pm, it was announced that I was victorious. What an exciting moment filled with smiles, balloons, and applause.

However, I vividly remember one question from a reporter: “Is this the best day of your life?” I had to think for a moment before I replied no. That response startled both the reporter and me. I explained my thinking: our wedding day would be first, then the birth of our children, and then election night.

As I reflect on the past eight years, it is clear that many aspects and experiences in a person’s life can help them be a successful mayor, namely: thoughtfulness, decisiveness, honesty, open-heart, life experiences, teamwork, emotional intelligence and of course, a sense of humour!

If anyone is thinking of running for the “power” of the office, you might as well forget it. There are no special powers as staff and councillors do not report to the mayor and the mayoral budget is essentially non-existent. The power of being the mayor must come from within: leadership, listening, understanding, encouraging, inspiring, seeing and making connections.

Our community is a resilient one and the mayor’s job is to keep it that way. Before I took office, our largest employer had shed about 8000 jobs locally and we needed to retain that top talent and create new companies.

Next, we had open-heart surgery in our community as we installed light rail transit. The LRT is enabling our future growth while limiting sprawl onto farmland and preserving the urban-rural fabric that makes Waterloo Region so special.

Then, the pandemic arrived. As we continue our fight against this deadly virus, we all need to support local businesses and move forward with kindness.

Citizens, city and regional staff and elected officials all have a big part to play in the success of our beautiful region. As I look back on my eight years as mayor, I realize we have accomplished so much together. Rejuvenation. That is the word I would use to describe our achievements here in Waterloo. After years of planning and construction, so many projects are nearing completion. Our uptown streetscape is a welcoming people-friendly environment. We have replaced our older-adult recreation complex with a brand-new facility and we just opened a new glass-encased gymnasium. Anyone for pickle ball?

Waterloo Park, the jewel of the city, has seen many improvements and Silver Lake will be our crowning achievement. A new east-side library branch will open this spring, rounding out our community access. While one kid plays sports at RIM Park, the rest of the family can enjoy time exploring the library.

Being mayor is the ultimate community role, so why am I leaving? Part of the answer lies in my response to the reporter on election night – life. There is always more to do with family and friends and opportunities abound in a great community like Waterloo. I also believe in karma. My previous experiences allow me to contribute and have fun in something that has yet to reveal itself. In short: I have no plans. Sometimes you have to fire yourself and pass the baton.

A mayor could not ask for more. Success abounds in our three post-secondary schools, dozens of global institutes and hundreds of non-profits.

The City of Waterloo is like a rocket ready to take off. Collectively we are ready to light the fuse on this rocket.

Are you Waterloo’s next mayor?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Jaworsky

Former GKWCC Board Member and generally interesting fellow, as seen on LinkedIn. My calendar for 2023 is wide open, so invite me to be a fill-in at your Chamber event table!

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