The most effusive praise for Mayor Charlie Clark came from council colleagues who rarely voted with him on major issues.
Praise for Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark was expected as he presided over his final city council meeting last week.
Coun. Troy Davies lauded him as “definitely a mayor who loves this city” and “one of the best human beings to ever be in his position.” That’s especially intriguing from Davies, who was once believed to be the heir apparent to former mayor Don Atchison.
Davies, a paramedic, praised Clark for taking part in a ride-along with police during which he witnessed an overdose.
Kirton, a former radio host, praised Clark in that distinctive voice: “I’ve never met a more compassionate and genuine person.”
But one expects such praise from Kirton, who became a reliable ally of Clark during his one council term.
The opposite is true of veteran right-leaning Coun. Randy Donauer, who often opposed Clark. Yet Donauer added to the accolades, telling Clark: “you are a person of integrity and honesty.”
Donauer added: “I think you’ve always done what’s best for the city, even when it hasn’t been popular, and I respect you for that.”
Donauer thanked Clark for this leadership and also thanked Clark’s wife, law professor Sarah Buhler, for supporting him.
“You enable me to see an issue from a perspective that doesn’t come naturally to me,” Donauer explained to Clark and other colleagues.
Councillors praised this council’s collaboration, despite the appearance of division.
“You are the glue that keeps us together, even though we don’t always agree,” veteran Coun. Bev Dubois said of Clark.
Clark stressed that, despite perceptions, council worked as a team and he leaves most proud that councillors stayed “respectful of each other and kind.”
He condemned the “drama and the politics of blame” that hinders other councils and other levels of government, even as he also choked up describing the sacrifices made by his family.
He recalled that when he was first elected to council in 2006 the prevailing issue was that young people saw no future in Saskatoon. He noted a stunning reversal from 25 per cent of University of Saskatchewan graduates remaining in Saskatoon back then to more than 75 per cent of grads staying here now.
That’s truly remarkable, since Saskatchewan every year still loses thousands of people who move to other provinces.
Still, somehow, despite these curveballs, property tax increases averaged 4.2 per cent in eight years under Clark, lower than the 4.3 per cent in 13 preceding years under Atchison.
“We are a city that has challenges, for sure … but we are also a city that has swagger, I would say,” Clark said.
Clark, who was raised in British Columbia, stressed he will remain in Saskatoon and wants city hall to continue to deliver good services and amenities.
Serving as mayor has been the “honour of my life,” Clark said, adding that he feels the city is infused with a sense of opportunity and “hope” for the future.
Clark also issued a reminder/warning for the council and mayor to be elected in November: “City building is an art, not a science, and it’s messy.”
Phil Tank is the digital opinion editor at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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