Calgary Civic Election Poll #2: Who do you support for Mayor?

[Bunk]

Calgary Civic Election Poll #2: Who do you support for Mayor?

It's been a month since poll #1, so with Barb Higgins in and an instant contender, where does your support lie?

No longer just a sausage party!

Results from Poll #1 for comparison:

Naheed Nenshi 40.91%
Ric McIver 23.38%
Kent Hehr 21.43%
Alnoor Kassam 7.14%
Joe Connelly 1.95%
Jon Lord 1.95%
Paul Hughes 1.30%
Craig Burrows 0.65%
Bob Hawkesworth 0.65%
Wayne Stewart 0.65%

[HeartsOfFire]

As I mentioned before, I have nothing but apathy for the civic election, because the issues that concern me can only be handled by government at the federal level.

For craps and laughs, I'm going to try and see if I can get away with tendering my vote to the highest bidder or proxy voter.

[mykalberta]

See below.

That is all.

[Bunk]

Thanks mods for the poll.

Discuss.

[Ducay]

Naheed right now, since he is the only person who has announced a platform that is logical.

Based on how everyone comes across in campaigning, their platforms etc. I can see my vote going to Nenshi or Hehr. Everyone else is more of the same.

[kipperfan]

Personally I support Nenshi, really like the guy and what he seems to be about. With that being said, for me, it is really a two horse race (for my support anyways). I will continue to support Nenshi and will only swing that support to Kent Hehr if I think he has a better chance at winning later in the race.

I am stunned Barb Higgins has 10 votes already, I guess name recognition really is all you need to win political office. I mean come on, what in bloody hell qualifies a lifetime news anchor to run one of the largest cities in the country?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

As I mentioned before, I have nothing but apathy for the civic election, because the issues that concern me can only be handled by government at the federal level.

That's just weird. I'm way more apathetic at the federal and especially provincial level, because my vote has little to no impact.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I am stunned Barb Higgins has 10 votes already, I guess name recognition really is all you need to win political office. I mean come on, what in bloody hell qualifies a lifetime news anchor to run one of the largest cities in the country?

Make that 11. Mine. For now. So your question is "what in bloody hell qualifies a lifetime news anchor to run one of the largest cities in the country"? I suppose I'd say that the fact that she's done it here in Calgary for 21 years - at the same station shows me that she's professional, solid, stable, and definitely in the know about what issues Calgary has historically and is currently facing. I'm also liking the fact that she's not a career politician. Being a news anchor means that you're basically not allowed to voice an opinion, so I'm (at this point) assuming that she's not in anyone's pocket.

Things have lots of time to change, however. In the first poll I voted for Kent Hehr, but I have to admit that that was a strategic vote, both civic and provincially.

Nenshi is also a very interesting candidate that just may win my vote. We'll see how it works out once candidates start actively campaigning. But for now, for the sake of this poll, I'm going with Higgins because AFAIC, she's the non-politician. Not McIver, not Hawkesworth, not Connely not Burrows. Jon Lord coming out of the woodwork after losing his provincial seat a few years ago is a bit interesting, but IIRC (and I very well could be wrong), he won that seat while he was an alderman. He just seems a little opportunistic.

Kassam has too much shady history for my liking. He denies all that stuff, but there sure seems to be a lot of smoke around the guy.

So anyway, there's my reason for voting for Higgins in this poll.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ever hear of a guy named Ralph Klein? He did alright for himself.

Why would that matter? Barb is not Ralph and Ralph isn't Barb, the media connection is coincidence. Otherwise might as well vote for Buckshot for premiere, and Rob Kerr for PM.

The fact that Barb has this many votes without any sort of platform is a little disappointing. For all we know, she might make a great mayor, but I'd hope people at least base it on something other then face time in front of a camera. Not that I'll vote, but until she says releases some thoughts on the issues, she's an n/a for me.

[Rhettzky]

4x4, those are my thoughts on Higgins to a tee.

For now I'm undecided, first time I picked Naheed but I'll probably wait to decide until it gets closer to the date. See if any candidates drop out, any more join in and get a better idea of the platforms. One thing is for sure though, I will not be voting for any former member of this council.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not that I'll vote, but until she says releases some thoughts on the issues, she's an n/a for me.

She's got a brief summary of her qualifications and vision on her website now. Nothing really solid yet though...

http://barbhiggins.ca/

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ever hear of a guy named Ralph Klein? He did alright for himself.

You're really going to try and draw that comparison? Ralph Klein was a respected and hard hitting reporter. He uncovered stories, thoroughly researched issues and oh by the way, covered municipal politics on a daily basis for almost 10 years! Meanwhile Barb has been a newslady for 20+ years, I will give you that. But in reality, all Barb has done for those 20 years are attempt to look pretty and read from a teleprompter five nights a week. IIRC she used to also do a fluff "public interest" type piece every year or so...to call her a reporter would be a laugh.

On top of all of that, Klein had something like 10 years public relations experience before even becoming a reporter. Not to mention the fact he was one of the most prolific personalities to have ever run for office in this city.

Nothing personal against Barb, I am sure she is a great lady. But (@ 4x4) the qualities you mention her having, while admirable, give no indication she even has the wherewithal to take on a responsibility this large and wide ranging.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by 4X4

So anyway, there's my reason for voting for Higgins in this poll.

Send her to Mayor School first, then your reasons for voting for Barb Higgins will be justified!!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Barb Higgins is the worst thing that has ever happened to Calgary. End the tyranny now!

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by fotze

I agree, I ain't voting for her, but as a reply to that comment, the most successful' mayor Calgary has ever had had the exact credentials that the poster was questioning. Thats all I was replying to.

What a crock. The same way Jarome Iginla and Wade Belak have the "exact credentials"?

[Frequitude]

I'm splitting the business experience criteria discussion I started in the Barb Higgins thread into here.

Rightly or wrongly, business and project management experience is my #1 priority in a candidate. I view a city as a big business whose mandate is to re-invest all "profits" back into the city through capital expenditures, department budgets, reduced taxes, etc.

Of course political experience is very important, but my choice will be the man or woman who best meets the above criteria.

[Reggie Dunlop]

As someone without a social heart who additionally advocates proliferate public sector spending, I object to Barb Higgins' mayoralty campaign.

[jammies]

I'm for Higgins 'cause Reggie is against her. She must have something going for her.

[MarchHare]

ABM




(preferably Hehr or Nenshi)

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Make that 11. Mine. For now. So your question is "what in bloody hell qualifies a lifetime news anchor to run one of the largest cities in the country"? I suppose I'd say that the fact that she's done it here in Calgary for 21 years - at the same station shows me that she's professional, solid, stable, and definitely in the know about what issues Calgary has historically and is currently facing.

That or that she's not talented enough to get a national job.

You just proved that name recognition is all you need, which is a growing problem in politics.

How can reading a script year after year be a good preparation for being a mayor? What that tells me is that she has zero mgmt experience, and if she has an ability to analyze costs, understand the effects of real life decisions or influence people with new ideas is purely by luck, not because of experience.

The only first hand information I have of her, is that an old boyfriend of hers (or who knows, maybe husband) is one of the crudest, immature, disrespectful humans I've ever come across.