Joe Ceci — alderman, social worker and music aficionado — was grooving to his iPod on his way to work this week when a Billy Bragg song began to play.
“If you want to make the weather,” the British alt rocker intoned, “then you have to take the blame.”
Ceci smiled at the lyric from Bragg’s I Keep Faith.
Since 1995, Ceci has worked to improve the city for Calgarians who are more likely to worry about keeping a roof over their heads than facing a 45-minute commute.
He has his critics, but the unabashed liberal doesn’t apologize for staying true to his political faith.
And that won’t change today when Ceci announces he won’t seek a sixth term in Ward 9.
“Democracy works best if there’s some change in those who are in positions of leadership every once in a while,” Ceci says of his decision to leave civic politics.
“There’s a certain amount of enjoyment . . . in doing the work, but I just thought, well, I’ve done that and perhaps it’s time to move on and do some other things.”
The 53-year-old scotches rumours of a mayor’s bid.
Asked whether he’d look at provincial or federal politics, he says “never say never,” but it’s not something he’s pursuing.
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The bottom line is Calgary is losing an alderman who not only minded his eastside ward, but helped bring awareness to poverty, racism, the environment, arts and culture, and even Calgary’s place in the nation.
In an era where politicians frequently fire off public barbs to make news, Ceci exercised restraint.
He was an advocate for affordable housing, and his opinion didn’t flag simply because a project was proposed for his community.
When bricks-and-mortar funding was the focus of a New Deal for Canadian cities, Ceci highlighted the needs of social infrastructure.
Still, he has been a target for conservatives in and out of city hall.
Ceci was part of a council that approved a series of controversial tax hikes since 2001, drawing the scorn of taxpayer advocates.
He has also faced criticism from those who saw him as soft on crime, and frustrated some when he temporarily stalled an aggressive panhandling bylaw because of concerns it failed to address social and mental health issues.
Yet, Ceci was vocal in pushing for police powers that would allow them to seize the cars of johns caught cruising for prostitutes. In 2007, he also defeated a former police union boss who challenged him on a law-and-order platform.
Ceci entered politics at age 38 after working for the city as a community worker in the Forest Lawn area for several years.
After winning a council seat, Ceci’s education began at the hands of one of council’s toughest aldermen, who had noticed his casual dress.
“I’m sitting across from Sue Higgins, and she writes me a note and it’s something like, ‘Ceci, next time wear a (bleeping) tie,’ ” he laughs.
“I never went back into that council chamber without a shirt and a tie.”
He was stung again — this time literally — when he went to investigate a proposed development site on the west side.
During his trek, he disturbed a wasp nest, and was stung five times. He later frightened colleagues with a swollen head that had nothing to do with ego.
“I haven’t supported anything on that slope since,” he jokes.
Ceci grew into the role of a veteran alderman, taking on duties at a local, provincial and national level, becoming Calgary’s point man on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Yet, after all these years, Ceci doesn’t seem to have grown cynical. Asked about the state of political dialogue in Alberta, he’s upbeat.
“I feel optimistic about the discussions that are happening all over the place because they are in the areas of the environment, arts and culture, social safety net,” he says.
Ceci hasn’t made up his mind about what he’ll be doing next fall. With $42,000 left in his election kitty, he will throw a thank-you party for his volunteers and donate the rest.
Maybe this won’t be the last time we see Joe Ceci in politics. Like he says, never say never. But, in the meantime, he’ll no doubt keep faith.
tseskus@theherald.canwest.com
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