Letter: Melanson’s ‘my way or the highway’ style won’t work

As a candidate with no actual experience in politics, other than running Mayor Matichuk’s campaign and serving as her coach, Dan Melanson certainly has a good opinion of his leadership skills and his ability to butt heads with difficult people.

Before casting a vote for him, one has to wonder about his approach to leadership, as he himself describes: “I’ve got a very hard head and I’m willing to butt. You can work with me or against me, but I’d much rather — and I suggest — you’d be better to work with me.”

I may be wrong, but that sounds to me like the 2014 version of the 1950s management style called “My way or the highway.”

The modern manager or career politician these days seeks to lead by example, by displaying leadership rather than claiming it, by developing consensus, which involves respect for others and their opinions, working for concurrence by engaging in informed discussions and factual presentations.

Drawing a line in the sand and saying “you better work with me, or else...” may not be any better than what we’ve had for the past four years.

Mr. Melanson says that he works very differently than Mayor Matichuk, and that he’s disappointed with her performance, yet he was the power behind the throne, so to speak, and if being the coach didn’t work, I’m not sure that playing the game will work either.

Of the declared candidates so far, Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis has put forth in his platform that he is a team player and will work for consensus to move our city forward. That sounds more promising.

Simon Guillet
Greater Sudbury