2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Wouldn't that be 33% less?


.

No, although that's what I thought at first also. It's because it's a frequency, ie the election will now be 1 out of every 4 years, or 1/4 of years will have an election, vs the previous every 1/3 of years.

Another way to think of it is the number of elections that will occur over a very long period of time. Previously 100 elections would take 300 years. Now, in 300 years we'll have 75 elections. (75*4=300). 75 elections is 25% less elections than 100 elections.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If Farrell Pincott, Lowe and Hodges don't come back, I would be happy

Well Lowe has already announced he is not running.

However I'll be doing everything in my power to keep Farrell in ward 7. I don't agree with her on everything but I'll take her over the alternatives any day of the week.

We can still be military geek buddies right Cap?

[PsYcNeT]

Who's that corporate stooge in the SE that's in the pocket of the real estate developers?

Shane Keating?

Yeah that guy needs to take a walk.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If Farrell Pincott, Lowe and Hodges don't come back, I would be happy

I'd take both Farrell and Pincott over the alternatives.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Well Lowe has already announced he is not running.

However I'll be doing everything in my power to keep Farrell in ward 7. I don't agree with her on everything but I'll take her over the alternatives any day of the week.

We can still be military geek buddies right Cap?

I don't hold peoples politics against them on this board, unless they're neo nazi zoom dweebies(Valley Girl yo)

I can't stand Farrell and Pincott I think they're both blundering morons.

[charper]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Wouldn't that be 33% less?

I'd be surprised if Dale Hodges runs again in Ward 1. I thought he was going to pack it in before the last election. Lowe is retiring at 73 and I think Hodges is a little older than that. He's been an alderman since the Reagan administration. The first one.

There may not be a precedent for toppling incumbent mayors but the last two elections have shown that it is possible to defeat incumbent aldermen.

Races to watch for me are Wards 1, 2, 7, 8 (mostly because it's my ward, not because I think it will be close, unless something unexpected happens), and 11.

I'd like for wards 10 and 13 to be more interesting, but I don't think they will be.

We're pretty confident that Councillor Hodges will be running again. I understand a team is in place. Good news is we're over 5,000 doors knocked on our campaign which sets us up to nearly quadruple the number of doors we did last time by election day. Whatever he decides, it will be a tough race but I'm feeling like we've got the team and organization in place to make it happen in Ward 1.

[Bigtime]

What's the deal with Hodges? Surely he's saved up enough to retire right? New blood is DESPERATELY needed in that ward.

[charper]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

What's the deal with Hodges? Surely he's saved up enough to retire right? New blood is DESPERATELY needed in that ward.

Councillor Hodges really enjoys what he does based on the chats we've had. It's always difficult to stop doing things you enjoy. I do agree that new representation can reinvigorate things for the Ward. Working to try and make that happen!

[Bobblehead]

Are the Ward boundaries changing, or are they static this time around?

And I wonder if one of the boilerplate questions this time around is if they candidate has taken "training" at The Manning Centre?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't hold peoples politics against them on this board, unless they're neo nazi zoom dweebies(Valley Girl yo)

I can't stand Farrell and Pincott I think they're both blundering morons.

As is the sad truth of Canadian Politics, you're often left with the lesser of evils. If there's a better choice than Farrell - than I easily vote for them. I'll add that I'm not pleased with her on a few issues, and will gladly entertain alternatives.

Having visited Kevin Taylor's website, he's going to have to really up his game to convince me. He hasn't updated his site from the last election (which I understand), and I'll give him credit for trying hard but overall he lacks substance. A lot of jibber jabber over the usual crumbs candidates like to throw out: More accountability, more responsibility, waste at Silly Hall, no Peace Bridge, etc etc etc. Kind of reminds me of a Rob Ford campaign...

If he's going to want to up his game, he's going to have to focus on depth of knowledge. Being owner of the Cheesecake Cafe doesn't mean a lot to me (unless it's a Cheesquake a day policy for all residents). Being associated with the Manning Center might actually work against him in this Ward.

[charper]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Are the Ward boundaries changing, or are they static this time around?

And I wonder if one of the boilerplate questions this time around is if they candidate has taken "training" at The Manning Centre?

Ward boundaries are not changing. A commission was struck to look at a significant boundary change in the election after this one. If you've ever wanted to see awkward Council meetings, watch a boundary decision.

Over 5,000 doors and Manning Centre has only come up twice.

[MRCboicgy]

I think the biggest questions are:

Will Shaw be able to come close to its epic coverage last time?
Will the CP Game thread of the election be even more epic?

Unless it gets real, the answer will sadly be no to both.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by charper

Ward boundaries are not changing. A commission was struck to look at a significant boundary change in the election after this one. If you've ever wanted to see awkward Council meetings, watch a boundary decision.

Over 5,000 doors and Manning Centre has only come up twice.

Martindale (where i live) is moving from ward 3 to ward 5, I don't know about other changes.

[charper]

Wowza not sure how I missed that. You're right. Will determine what communities are moved and get that back on here in a short.

[4X4]

Rutherford running for Mayor? I've listened to him enough to have the opinion that he's way more interested in provincial and federal politics than municipal. Of course, he did announce his retirement (or that he's leaving his talk show on QR) this summer. That's some convenient timing. But it just doesn't sound right to me. He seems much more focused on provincial & federal politics and current events.

Now if you told me he was going to run for the Wildrose, I'd believe that.

[charper]

Martindale from Ward 3 to 5 and places the entire community of Cougar Ridge, which is currently split between Wards 1 and 6, into 6. Good catch!

[Tyler]

Can someone link to the 2010 Election thread? I want to relive some nostalgia

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

I think the biggest questions are:

Will Shaw be able to come close to its epic coverage last time?
Will the CP Game thread of the election be even more epic?

Unless it gets real, the answer will sadly be no to both.

I can't remember her name but the girl doing election coverage on Shaw had amazing legs, knew it and dressed to show em off.

By the end of the night I didn't care, I needed a cigarette and a nap.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Can someone link to the 2010 Election thread? I want to relive some nostalgia

There were a few
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=91897

mayoral poll
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=92599

another mayoral poll
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=93805

another mayoral poll
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=95721

election PGT
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=96799
Notethe polls have a ton of discussion in them.

[Daradon]

I actually think that if Rutherford ran he would get squashed.

Nenshi's support is really high. Sure he doesn't fit the old white guy mold, but it's not like even most of them are complaining he's done a bad job. It would really only be the crazy 'birther muslim' types that would be a consistent vote against him.

Funny enough, I've even heard the Muslim argument made against Nenshi. So sad. But not even close to being as big an 'issue' as it is down south. Just some real crazies, most of which probably won't vote anyway.

Lastly Nenshi proved last time that his campaign was really good at mobilizing the vote and getting to the younger audiences. Rutherford, even with his 'celebrity' would be less efficient at it I think.

I'd kinda want to see that race just to see a squashing. But Rutherford is a smart guy (I think?). He knows to wait until an incumbent is not running.