Surviving the Suplex: How Elected Officials Can Overcome Polarizing Politics and Serve with Impact
Municipal politics is one of the most underestimated, complex, and misunderstood areas of
leadership in Canada. From the outside, it looks like council chambers, ribbon cuttings, and
debating about crosswalk locations. But on the inside? It’s often brutal, personal, and
dripping with pressure.
Honestly, some days it feels like an old-school pro wrestling match: Seven elected officials
enter a ring. Steel chairs fly. Suplexes land. Trust is tested. And if one person crawls out
alive after 60 minutes—it’s a miracle.
That’s municipal politics: policy by cage match. And jokes aside, the polarization we’re
seeing in local government is real—and it’s dangerous to the health of our councils and
communities.
What Makes Municipal Politics So Polarizing?
