The Odd Couples

Here is the commentary that kicked off last Thursday's show:

Norm McFarlane seemed like an ideal mayor when he was elected back in 2004. A former Tory cabinet minister, he appealed to business people and social conservatives. But he also seemed open-minded enough to please younger people and social progressives. Not that long after he was elected, McFarlane and deputy mayor Michelle Hooton were out raising the gay pride flag together in front of city hall.

I should have spotted a sign of things come on election night 2004, though. A bit giddy because I voted for someone who had actually won, I went down to McFarlane’s campaign office to congratulate him.

He and his campaign managers were outside smoking victory cigars – the ultimate old boy ritual. All that was missing were plush leather chairs and a backroom.

He would ultimately retreat to that back room less than a year later, ending a long honeymoon period in which council had actually gotten along most of the time.

The secret tax deal he negotiated with old blue eyes, Kenneth Irving, would divide council for the rest of its term.

On Monday, we saw the end result: an incumbent mayor in a boom economy remarkably finished in fourth place. Ivan Court, the fiercest and most consistent critic of that deal, is now mayor.

Of all the relationships that soured on council in the last four years, perhaps none was more unfortunate than the rift that grew between Hooton and McFarlane. In both mayors’ debates, they saved their most venomous comments and nastiest sidelong glances for each other. You could have been forgiven for thinking that they were the two frontrunners, not John Ferguson and Ivan Court.

Hooton and McFarlane had come a long way down from that day at city hall, which was so full of optimism and promise. The young progressive woman, and the older conservative man - both there for the raising of the gay pride flag, a symbol that a city so proud of its past was also willing to embrace its future.

They’re both gone after only term in office, and now we look forward to a new council, led by Court and deputy mayor-elect Stephen Chase.

We’ll speak with both of them on tonight’s show.

Well also talk to Arlyn Bradley of The Mahones, the Canadian Irish punk band performing tonight at Ellwood’s. Arlyn is the band’s bass player and a native of Saint John.

But first up, interviews with The New Odd Couple – Ivan Court and Stephen Chase.