Politics in 91原创 Township has sunk to a new low. Few of those who currently sit on Township council can hold their heads high.

News that Mayor Rick Green was under police investigation for his conduct relating to Brownshak Developments was revealed on Monday in a very curious way. There was no press release from police, or from the Township. Instead, someone with a political agenda invited a Global TV reporter to a routine Monday round of Township council meetings. Obviously, that person dangled enough information in front of the reporter to make that visit possible.

The net effect was a round of media reports stating that the mayor is under police investigation. Obviously, this is news that the public is entitled to. It would be best if it was served up without such an obvious political agenda.

Seven of the nine councillors oppose Green on almost everything, and their opposition has been growing almost from the moment he was declared the winner of the last election. It is their right to oppose him and the direction he wants to take the Township in.

For his part, Green has been unrepentant and indeed defiant of council on occasion. His airing of the Brownshak business, which goes back to 1996, before council in the first place reeks of political opportunism. His recent success in being reappointed to Metro Vancouver committee posts was in direct defiance of a council resolution.

As consultants Gerald Berry and Alison Habkirk stated in a report to the Township, Green has rejected 鈥渢he fundamental principle of shared and collective decision-making.鈥� He was clear about this long before he was elected.

When asked how he could govern if the majority of council opposed him, he told The Times that the mayor has additional powers under the Community Charter, and he intended to use them if he had to.

However, the other members of council have not given Green a chance to work in a 鈥渟hared and collective鈥� fashion. When he appointed an outside committee to look at the 2009 Township budget, the council majority fought every step of the way, and then rejected all the committee鈥檚 suggestions.

The best way to make the next Township council a much more functional one is to get out and vote in November. Don鈥檛 leave it up to someone else.