Sometimes as a municipal politician you just have to put yourself out there.
And laugh and even get wet.
Saturday afternoon during the Fort Fun Centre’s Rib and Craft Beer Fest, that is exactly what Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, and councillors Molly Allaire and Linden Crain did – they got wet.
Beginning with Crain and then progressing to Gibb and finally Allaire, one-by-one they climbed the ladder into a dunk tank and took their chances of getting soaked.
All three agree that it is important to get out and be with the public during such events and in this case, raise money for a good cause, the Amherstburg Rotary Club.
“I think the people who elect you want to see your face out there. It is nice when a concerned citizen shows up,” said Crain.
A rookie politician, he is often seen outside of municipal responsibilities as is Allaire.
“This is good for our community, it brings everyone together,” said Allaire just a few short moments before she was knocked off her perch and submerged in a tank of fairly warm water.
For a donation to the Rotary Club, anyone, and it seemed of any age, could throw balls and hit a target and if successful, the politician was plunged into the water.
More times than not, if the throw was not hard enough to make the dunker go in, a little help and all in good fun, was applied.
“You have to get out there and do things like this. It’s not just about making million-dollar decisions,” said Allaire, also a political newcomer.
Some well-intended banter went back-and-forth between the politicians and those who attended and Gibb encouraged many to put down their money for the cause and was heard saying, “how bad do you want to see me go in.”
There were even a few remarks made, that since the town raised taxes six percent in 2024, that the dunking was payback.
Town council members get dunked for a good cause
By Fred Groves
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