STAHN: Why I don’t expect anything less from Cavers

So a politician has a political view, what a novel idea. Of course Coun. Donovan Cavers took ‘wearing it on your sleeve’ to a whole other level at a Kamloops city council meeting this week.

Cavers, who was a Green Party candidate in the 2008 federal election, decided to wear a shirt depicting a cartoon image of Stephen Harper being tossed out of a garbage can with the words ‘Heave Steve’ on it. Not something we haven’t heard before from numerous other people and parties, but for some reason a city councillor voicing that opinion (or wearing that opinion in this case) to a city council meeting was too much for some people.

Let’s take a step back, Cavers wasn’t elected as a city councillor because he puts an emphasis on public opinion, or because he waits to hear from everyone on everything before having a public opinion about a matter. That works for some council members, but not Cavers.

Cavers was elected because of his passion. Because he lets people know exactly where he stands on many issues.

No one is surprised he is not going to vote Conservative. No one is surprised he’s against the proposed Ajax Mine, or that he’s for increasing transit hours and increasing downtown densification. Cavers, for the most part, is an open book.

I may not agree with everything he says or does, but I do think his willingness to put himself out there shows courage, and that is something other politicians should take note of, because love him or hate him, at least he has an opinion. We never have to wonder where he stands on an issue.

To contact a reporter, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.