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Political Careers and Community Responsibility: A Reflective Analysis
6-27-2024
Have you ever wondered about the connection between political careers and community responsibility?
Political leaders play a crucial role in shaping the well-being of their communities, making decisions that have far-reaching effects.
Accountability and service in public office are essential for creating positive change and fostering trust between leaders and residents.
It's important to understand the impact that political decisions can have on the lives of those they represent.
Let's strive for a more accountable and service-oriented Leadership landscape for the benefit of all.
Political careers encompass various roles in governance, including elected officials, department heads, and campaign workers. A 2014 Pew Research study found that only about 2% of Americans have ever run for federal, local, or state elected office.
Being an elected official offers prestige, perks, and privileges not available to public. It also provides valuable confidential information that can potentially be financially beneficial. This information is often shared through government announcements, such as public transit system extensions, which can benefit property owners and developers along new routes.
Despite the benefits 98% do not consider running for public office is a sign many feel the risks outweigh the rewards. It involves exposing oneself to scrutiny, loss of privacy, rejection, and disruption from routines. Candidates must also manage finances, navigate media, and strike unappealing compromises.
Political ambition is the desire to gain and retain power through electoral means. Many politicians begin their political journey by building a personal portfolio and public profile, focusing on social activism. These activists, often passionate about one or two principled issues, eventually become full-time politicians committed to lasting change. Examples include late MP Chuck Cadman in Surrey Central, who campaigned for a tougher Young Offenders Act after his son’s death. These politicians are often considered “sincere” as they passionately believe in fighting for the public’s betterment and bringing about lasting change and leaving a political legacy behind.
Accidental politicians often rise to political prominence quickly due to their family’s political dynasty, which assumes they possess the political genes of their forefathers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, son of former PM, Pierre Trudeau and grandson of Canadian businessman and politician James Sinclair, is an example of such politicians.
Political parties recruit candidates based on various criteria, including local and regional issues, ethnic vote, and the diverse views and concerns of local constituents. They must cast a wide net to find the best candidate, considering various factors and constituencies.
The “wide net” strategy involves parties, candidates, and voters focusing on candidates’ popularity among specific groups, ethnicities, industries, organizations, or affiliations. This approach can complicate matters for both parties and voters, as they hope to secure votes and clinch seats based on their “star” candidate’s popularity or influence.
This strategy was evident earlier in June when the BC Muslim community was outraged over BC United’s nomination of BCMA President, Asad Gondal in a Surrey riding. It was the first time a BCMA Executive sought political office.
We believe everyone has a democratic right to participate in a political process, including running for political office. However, when an elected or appointed community leader chooses to venture into politics, they must take into consideration the negative impact it might have on the community at large, especially when they are currently serving in office. This situation highlights the need for further examination to protect the collective interests of the community.
Hindsight is 20/20. B.C. United’s decision to nominate the current BCMA President, Mr. Gondal and the controversy that erupted after his nomination, where within 48-hour period BC United rescinded their decision. We can say the community was justified in their outrage over Mr. Gondal’s decision to run for the office in first place and even more outraged at B.C. United decision to throw him under the bus bringing unneeded negative publicity on the whole community. The only beneficiary in this fiasco is Kevin Falcon and BC United Party at the expense of the Muslim community at the same time contributing to the rise of Islamophobia. This should serve as a warning for others with political aspirations, to be careful.
This incident highlights the need for the community to introspect and consider safeguards to protect our collective interests. While there is no legal restriction on BCMA officials running for office, the community should consider whether these leaders have responsibilities towards the community that outweigh personal ambition or any Muslim instituion is being used as a launchpad. The community’s perception is influenced by the actions and decisions of its leaders.
Certainly, there is neither a “vow” of political chastity imposed on any of the elected BCMA officials nor does the law restrict it, at least to the best of our knowledge.
In the past BCMA executives adhered to much higher unwritten moral standards when dealing with government officials especially in advancing Muslim issues. The question to consider for future is, do the BCMA Elected Executives or Officials have responsibilities towards the community at large, their peers, BCMA staff and volunteers and their membership over self-interest and personal ambition? The simple answer is, yes!
BCMA elected executives and officials first fiduciary duty and responsibilities are towards the Muslim community, their peers, and staff and volunteers and most importantly their membership. Their statements, comments, activities, and behaviors reflect the collective perception and views of the community, making their decisions public and potentially influencing people and society’s perception of the community.
After what has transpired over the past few weeks over Mr. Gondal’s nomination, we feel the BCMA memberships needs to revisit their constitution or incorporate some of the policies outlined in “The New York Times Company Policy on Ethics in Journalism” to ensure neutrality and protect collective interests to maintain objectivity and integrity. In Summary they are:
Company Reputation: The reputation of the company and its assets are collective and should not be exploited for personal gain.
• Political Neutrality: Officials must avoid political involvement to maintain professional neutrality. This includes refraining from campaigning, endorsing candidates or causes, or displaying partisan symbols.
• Financial Contributions: Officials should be prohibited from donating to political candidates or causes to avoid any perception of bias.
• Running for Office: Officials must not seek or hold public office, as it undermines their community objectivity and could suggest favoritism.
• Public Advocacy: Participation in public causes, movements, or endorsements that could compromise perceived neutrality is not allowed. This includes marching, rallying, signing petitions, or lending names to campaigns.
This is not to deter Muslim leaders from seeking public office. Rather to protect community’s wider collective interests in an ever so increasing hostile environment towards Muslims. An individual’s choice to join a political party cannot come at the expense of the whole community’s collective future. Such decisions can be delayed for minimum 4 years after fulfilling their term of office in order to distance themselves from decisions that could be perceived to be biased towards a political party.
The collective efforts of the community cannot be single-handedly compromised. Our most prized institutions are a direct result of our collective efforts. They are the fruits from the countless millions of hours of volunteer time that cannot be put on risk and gambled for paltry petty gains for anyone’s self-interest and without any proper oversight or hindsight. It cannot be ruled out that in the process to seek and pursuit public office compromises could eventually be made while in office as an official of BCMA or Masjid or Islamic Organization that could possibly be perceived to be detrimental to the interest of the entire Muslim community.
As Muslims we believe the best guidelines in all aspects of our lives were demonstrated by the Sahabah- Comapsions. The Khalifah Umar Rad. Once appointed Abu Hurayra Rad. as governor to Bahrayn. However, when he made a small amount of wealth by trade during his period of office, ‘Umar had him investigated. Although he was found innocent and requested to return to office, Abu Hurayra declined, saying: “That is enough for me as a governor.”
Asad Gondal, if genuinely sincere and passionate about a better BC, still has the opportunity to demonstrate his vision by running as an independent candidate.
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