See you in November.

That’s the statement Lewiston City Councilor Normand Rousseau made Tuesday, in storming out of the council’s meeting amidst debate over committee assignments. Rousseau’s march shows progressive action by this council cannot, and will not, occur until after the November election.

The issue Tuesday was regarding the appointment of nonregistered voters to the city’s new downtown advisory committee. Rousseau, and others, feel voting is an integral qualification for membership, as it proves a dedication to the city. Some councilors, and mayor Laurent Gilbert, consider it a nonissue.

Voting is a nonissue; the real divide between these sides is Gilbert’s assertion of mayoral authority over the council, and its chafing effect on certain members. Rousseau and Gilbert’s differences began long before Tuesday, and this tempest over a minor topic shows their working relationship is severed.

It’s causing the council’s governing to suffer. Gilbert is maximizing the influence of his position, although as essentially a short-term mayor, exercising this influence has been divisive. Though his intentions might be noble, he is currently presiding over a council plagued by dysfunction.

Churlish behavior by his opponents, like Rousseau, is equally hurtful. The veteran councilor should have known better than to stomp from the council chambers when there’s business to be done, and should have used his vote to announce his displeasure, not his feet.

Remaking downtown is too important of an issue to be derailed by political personality conflicts. As mayor, Gilbert exerted his authority to sculpt the downtown committee, and made sensible recommendations to include representation from many backgrounds and viewpoints.

He did not include them all, however. The committee, as constituted, does lack representation from downtown business interests. This is the crux of Rousseau’s complaint – that committees, if they’re to be assembled by the mayor, shouldn’t be populated only by those who may share their views.

It’s a legitimate concern. Yet staging a walkout was a childish method of sending this grown-up message.

Committee assignments are a curious dividing line – the downtown committee, as an advisory body, has no real power. If this type of decision causes such discord within the council, it’s a wonder what might occur during debate over more pressing topics.

Not that this council should tackle them, anyway. The looming election campaign for mayor – candidates are eligible to file paperwork in July – should put a screeching halt to progress. Naming committees, to study possibilities, is about as far as this council can likely go.

Only after November will it go any further.