O.K. in hindsight I am willing to admit that Julie Ann Herteis probably by far was not the worst councillor Woolwich has ever suffered through. There are reams of smarter, more worldly councillors who had both a mean streak and a dishonest streak that I don't believe that Julie Ann has. Nevertheless appointing her to a temporary councillor position might seem peculiar under many circumstances. If Woolwich Council in replacing Scott Hahn's sudden resignation had simply said "We have the right and the authority to unilaterally make this appointment (Julie Ann) and that's that." then quite frankly myself and most might have complained of favourtism etc. for a full five minutes. Instead Woolwich Council lied like dogs and went through a huge process of taking applications, demanding written biographies and insisting upon a public spectacle whereby ten very talented and credentialed individuals stood up and made a speech about why they were qualified and wanted the interim councillor's job.
Ooops let me amend that. There were nine applicants who went the full distance plus Julie Ann who did her own thing. In one sense I have to respect her refusal to play the game exactly as Mayor Shantz and Counillors wanted it. She did not dress up at all. Blue jeans, running shoes, plain shirt etc.. She did not make a five or ten minute speech. She did not brag about her past accomplishments. She stated that she had "experience" as a councillor (one term) which she did and then lost at reelection time.
Meanwhile her competitors included business owners, professionals, PHds, all dressed formally, who made lengthy speeches as requested. They gave their curriculum vitaes and spoke of their love of Woolwich Township and public service. Most were clearly exceptional individuals who could have handled being a municipal councillor with ease. Julie on the other hand, whom I have since learned is smarter and more accomplished than I knew, struggled as a councillor. Hey we all have our strengths and weaknesses.
Councillors began voting. Good Lord but at that they weren't even terribly subtle. Julie was by far favoured for the position from the start. Well let me clarify. She wasn't favoured at the start of voting. No that minor inconvenience had already been eliminated. Julie was handpicked for the position before the process began. The process was all for show and Council however hadn't gotten all their ducks together or they would have made the voting last longer than it did. Wham, bam thank you Mam but Julie is the new short term councillor. I expect that most of the other applicants also figured out pretty quickly that they'd been used. They'd been lied to in that none of them were ever going to get the position. They all went through a public process that was simply designed to deceive the public.
Woolwich Township still continue to behave in that fashion. It's called TRAC and it's equally disgusting.
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