Being a councillor while keeping your job a balancing act, candidates say

Although the work ofa Halifax Regional Municipalitycouncillor is oftenviewed asfull-time job, candidates don't always plan to set their careers aside forpublic office.

VeterinarianTrevor Lawson says he wants to continue caring forhis farm animalpatients while representing the people of District 1,Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley.

"I'm looking at this as an opportunity for public service as opposed to looking for a job," Lawson said Saturday, a week before polls close.

"[Veterinary work]happens at all times of day and all hours, much the same as what the council position would be, so I think the two will work very well together."

Lawson says he alsomust continue working to maintain his vet licence, butas a part owner of his clinic, he will be able to cut back.

Heis running against Steve Streatch, Steve Sinnott, Alison McNair, Cathy Deagle-Gammon and Colin Castle.

Term limits

Elsewhere in the province,councillorswith towns or municipalities oftenhold otherjobs. ButHalifax councillor duties "exceed the expectations of an 'average full-time worker'," acompensation study foundlast March. Halifax councillors are eachpaid about $82,000 annually.

Lawson supportsimposing term limitsto increase the variety of voices, which veteran municipal politician Sue Utecksays may push candidates to consider how to "keep your foot in the private world, as well."

After losing her District 7 Halifax-South-Downtown seatin 2012,Utecksays she was "one of the lucky ones" tofinda job.

"For colleagues that were defeated or chose not to run, some of them had a very, very hard time gaining employment," shesaid.

But, she warns, being a councillorsimplymay betoo busy for a side job.

"Your phone's going to be ringing 24/7," she said.

Uteck is running against incumbent Waye Mason and DominickDesjardins.

'Not your typical 9 to 5'

Steve Adams, incumbent forDistrict 11Spryfield-Sambro Loop-Prospect Road,straddled the private and public sectorsfor 22 years.

"I was fortunate. My job was not your typical nine to five," Adams said.

Since 1991, the number of eligible voters he's represented have swelled from about 5,000 to 18,000, he said. The work load grew againin 2012, when the number of councillors dropped from 23to 16. On top of it all, his pharmaceutical sales job took him around Atlantic Canada. By 2013, he retired from the private sector.

"I just couldn't do both jobs and do them well," Adams said.

Don't quit yet: councillor

Still, Adams wouldn't urgecandidates to give up their jobs once elected. Adams says they might have trouble finding a second job, asthey'll needdays offand have to field calls at work.

"If they have the job now, the best thing to do is wait and see. See how the workload works out," Adams said.

Adams is running against DawnPenney.

Effort over hours

But Lawson says he'll keep working as a veterinarian.

"We've had councillors in that past that have considered themselves full-time councillors, yet only attended 50 per cent of council meetings," hesaid.

"It's not going to be an issue of me not showing up. I'll certainly be there and will make it happen."

The final day for municipal voting is Oct. 15.