IT is now proper to # refer to Mark Sager as the former mayor of Se West Vancouver. He is mam now the recipient of me well-deserved thanks for doing a good job, ‘and quiet concern over § apparent further politi- cal ambitions. When I interviewed him on Rogers Cable’s municipal m election night broadcast, he g all but announced that he would be seeking a nomina- tion in next year’s federal selection. However, he was- "t sure — or couldn’t say for which party. ‘ Recently Sager has attended a Progressive Conservative fund-raiser for Jean Charest and has also * asked retiring Reform MP : Herb Grubel to show him - the ropes in Ortawa. ‘:- In addition, there are istent rumors that-he’s © ering a run at the Liberal nomination in the new federal riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast. Indeed, North Shore “News columnist Trevor- © Lautens has predicted that this is the route Sager will,

Socreds are queasy and uncertain about their politi- cal bearings in our province today. And for those serious about pursuing political careers, it’s important to determine whether you’re guided by principle or opportunism.

As W.A.C. Bennett was so fond of saying: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

In a period of Liberal dominance at the national level, the local Grit nomina- tion might seem like the best bet. But here are three potential obstacles that stand in Mark Sager’s path:

1. He’s not a Liberal. And ever since the Tories

and Socreds took over the

provincial Liberal Party, there’s been both resistance and resentment among a

number of local federal Liberals. *

As a result, there will likely be a strong field of genuine Liberals vying for the nomination. Among the rumored names are Phil

low,

* Could it be that the for- mer West Van mayor is a lit-. tle disoriented? He’s not

lone, of course...

,.Many former fede: Tories and provincial

Boname, the “First Man” of West Vancouver now that his wife is mayor, and Barbara Brink of Science World fame, who currently serves as the chief fundraiser for the United Way of the Lower Mainland. Both would be formidable candi- dates.

2. Mayors do not travel well politically. In fact, throughout the history of our province and country local politicians have only very rarely been able to make the transition to senior levels of government.

The reason? Partisanship can be vicious and no amount of ribbon-cuttings and grin-and-grip mug shots in the local media can ade- quately prepare someone for

¢ backstabbing and mind- less games played in the hellish world of party poli- tics.

Also, in order to be a good mayor it’s necessary to be parochial in one’s think- ing. Attending to the impor- tant details of fixing pot- holes or coordinating garbage collection is not the most useful training for developing a larger vision of a province or nation. Most mayors who graduate to senior levels of government usually fade into the obscu- rity of the backbench.

3. John Reynolds. The only time that Mark Sager wandered close to partisan

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advice for ex-mayor Mark

politics was more than a decade ago when he sought a Social Credit nomination that might have taken him to Victoria. But he stuck his toe into dangerous political waters and had it bitten off by a hungry shark known as John Reynolds.

The more experienced politician easily defeated Sager, who wisely hasn’t since wandered too close to thuse churning waters. Now, it’s rumored that Reynolds may return trom his self- imposed exile in At.s:12a to seek a nomination for the Reform Party. Is that enough to scare Sager off? Or does he long for a grudge match?

Mark Sager has been in politics since he was a teenager. Legend has it that his goal was to become prime minister by the age of 30. Having missed that tar- get, he should ask himself an honest question: “Does the country really need another

career politician?”

With a young family and a carcer in municipal politics behind him now, it’s a won- der that Sager hasn’t had enough. But politics is like a virus, and some people are more susceptible to the bug than others.

For all the wrong rea- sons, there are those who will be encouraging Sager to go for it. But it’s a very per- sonal decision, with huge consequences for one’s pri- vate and family life.

My bet is that Sager’s closest friends are advising him to pass on the tempta- tion.

“Get a grip, and get a life.” That’s what I'd advise.

fins The North Shore ie believes strongly in freedom o, speech and the Yi of alt sides in a debate to be heard. The columnists published in the News present differing

_ points of view, but those views

are not necessarily those of the newspaper itself.

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