One of the first assignments in political campaigns that used to be given young political apparatchiks was driving the candidate. A smart campaign manager would always ensure that a distracted and busy candidate had time between assignments such as coffee parties and speeches to read briefing notes and to rest for a few minutes, if needed. The good driver was the one who knew when the candidate needed to deal with personal thoughts and when serving as a sounding board might be helpful.
What brings this up is the current flurry of concern that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is going to kill someone—likely himself—if he continues reading, texting and using his cell phone while driving his very large utility vehicle. The police are in the forefront of those recommending that he have a driver. The mayor has no idea what the fuss is about.
It is amazing that in recent years people have forgotten that Toronto City Hall used to have a fleet of city cars and drivers at the beck and call of the city’s mayor and controllers. (The aldermen had to fend for themselves.) In Ottawa or at Queen’s Park at that time, all members of cabinet had a car and driver assigned to them.
The exception to this was the time when a grand-standing Liberal Premier Mitch Hepburn publicly auctioned off the previous Conservative cabinet’s limousines after he was elected in 1934.
Another event that underlined the need for political figures to have drivers was in 1977. The then Premier of Quebec, René Lévesque struck and killed a homeless person while driving a lady other than his wife late at night. He paid a fine of $25 for not wearing his glasses at the time but this was an object lesson in why political figureheads should not drive themselves.
Obviously there is an ebb and flow of opinion on what political positions, if any, should merit being chauffeured. In an egalitarian society such as Canada, it is not common for people to need to be driven on their routine commutes. There are also politicians who prefer to drive themselves. Pierre Trudeau made a point of showing off his sports car and driving it himself after being defeated by Joe Clark’s Conservatives in 1979.
As for Mayor Ford, he should heed the advice of the Toronto police. There could be a flurry of tickets for minor infractions if he does not pay attention.
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Copyright 2012 © Peter Lowry
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