2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sure, but its no different than what SebC alluded to above. Every candidate uses these buzzwords and catch phrases. Everyone out there is a fiscal conservative who will trim the fat, represent the people, act in a prudent and balanced manner and is in favour of smart growth. Virtually none of them want to tell you explicitly how any of this will take place, or what they'll actually do though.

Agreed. All candidates are deliberately vague, regardless of their leanings. I do think, however, that a more unified message from certain candidates will start to emerge, and it will tie in to other sites and information put forward by the Manning people. Their goal is to influence civic politics with their own ideology, so they'll absolutely need to tie in "their" candidates to the messages being provided.

[Rathji]

That's the reason why Nensi won me over last time, is there was real substance to his stuff.

I didn't agree with everything he said, but at that time I got the sense that I knew what I was voting for. At this point in time, I definitely don't agree with everything he did, but I don't think there was any major deviance from those things I based my vote for him on.

[mykalberta]

I have to say, Im in agreement that developers have to much influence at City Hall but calling everyone a developers pawn who doesnt support everything Nenshi says 100% of the time is starting to seem very childish IMO.

Someone should start a website that calls to task people who blame and accuse with no factual basis other than a differing opinion. You dont support Shawnee Slopes or the closing of Mccall Lake gc - you must be in the developers pockets. There are many reasons why people wouldnt support either of those 2 things or anything else, if someone doesnt support a 20 story condo in Sunnyside are they also in the developers pockets?

For levies on new development, its a tricky issue. Its one I agree with but one where there is also a level of fairness that is lacking when new houses now need to pay and existing dont. Its been a shell game for 100 years with trying to pass on costs to new development to pay for current development (its similar to the CPP or anything else that relies on a larger growing base to support the current - see Europes looming retirement crisis). When Sunnyside was first built I am sure they didnt pay the appropriate infrastructure costs at the time of construction so for inner city home owners to say the suburbs must now pay is a smidge ridiculous. Now that doesnt mean that eventually the accounting needs to be balanced and someone has to pay but to say its all to blame on development and new suburbs seems a bit over the top.

Its too bad there wasnt a decent contender on the other side of the spectrum - then we would really see how popular a Mayor Calgary has. Its easy to be considered a good steward of public funds or popular when you have no real opposition. People dont have to look any farther than our provincial parties to see that truth.

For Nenshi, I never remember hearing Bronco going to so many different community events, maybe its because of Twitter but holy shat Nenshi is campaigning almost every night of the year that he shows up at some of these things (which is a good thing).

[Slava]

^Great post!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by fotze

You're still bitter your buddy Kent Hair got beat out by nenshi before he even started.

Nah, I am voting for Nenshi again and almost surely would regardless of who was running. I just think that while I support a lot of his stuff I don't support everything that he wants to do or has done.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

For levies on new development, its a tricky issue. Its one I agree with but one where there is also a level of fairness that is lacking when new houses now need to pay and existing dont. Its been a shell game for 100 years with trying to pass on costs to new development to pay for current development (its similar to the CPP or anything else that relies on a larger growing base to support the current - see Europes looming retirement crisis). When Sunnyside was first built I am sure they didnt pay the appropriate infrastructure costs at the time of construction so for inner city home owners to say the suburbs must now pay is a smidge ridiculous. Now that doesnt mean that eventually the accounting needs to be balanced and someone has to pay but to say its all to blame on development and new suburbs seems a bit over the top.

Nonsense. New development can't pay for current development because it doesn't even pay for itself.

[JobHopper]

Is it official that Jon Lord will be running for mayor? I didn't notice it on his website but there was a sign in his video store there I noticed the other day.

[TurnedTheCorner]

This is dragging out forever.

[charper]

Originally Posted by SebC

What part of the ward are you in? Alexander's support is strong in West Hillhurst, but overall Ward 7 will most likely be between Farrell and Taylor, as it was last time. Alexander is the guy who might play spoiler for Farrell.

As far as specifics go, I think Alexander's actually presented quite a lot of detail. You just have to go through his blog to find it.

I disagree with you on Chris Harper's platform (hi, charper). I find it deliberately vague in a quite a few places.

Example 1: "Improving City services isn’t about spending more or spending less, it’s about making the best use of what we already have" is effectively dodging the question of whether we are taxed at an appropriate level. Everybody wants bang for the buck. That's not an election issue, nor does it differentiate a candidate from anyone else.

Example 2: "Keeping our city’s growth balanced is important to ensuring affordability and opportunities for every Calgarian to afford a home whether a
condominium, secondary suite, or single family residence. Chris supports a balanced approach that makes the best use of the land we already have without making Calgary unaffordable."

I support a "balanced approach". Cal Wenzel supports a "balanced approach". Which way are we out of balance and how does that balance need to shift? Or have we already nailed the right balance? You can't equivocate any better than that. Stop balancing on the fence, Chris!

Hello back SebC,

Go through my blog and I'm sure you'll find plenty of detail there on many topics in and out of the platform. I did have to keep it to a reasonable length.

On the City services bit. My profession and how I earn a living is about making the best use of what companies already have. How services are planned for, designed, and provided impacts their costs. If they didn't, there would be no need for the services I provide as a professional. Costs are related to taxes.

On the balanced growth bit. I'm not going to explain the proposed growth management framework and dynamics of land supply in my platform. The platform was designed so that most folks could understand it.

Of course I'm not going to explain every single detail in my platform. I don't have a party behind me to do the huge amount of research necessary to provide you with a pro-forma budget and motion by motion play of every change. I typed it up myself. So, you'll have to make due with what I released. If you're volunteering to help beef it up, I'd gladly take the help.

But I can say that what I put out is far more than the usual three bullet points from some candidates. Some of the details I'd also like to share at the candidate forums and during the election period.

I was deliberate with many things in the platform and the campaign. Being vague wasn't one of them.

[JonDuke]

Joe Connelly, who represented Ward 6 from 2007 to 2010, jumps back into the race to be the only challenger to Richard Pootmans. Should be a one of the more tighter races.

[Bigtime]

Connelly? Hahahahahaha.

[stevinder]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Connelly? Hahahahahaha.

I know, I know. He has a couple of signs around Ward 6 taking credit for the 37th/Glenmore interchange and the West LRT.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by stevinder

I know, I know. He has a couple of signs around Ward 6 taking credit for the 37th/Glenmore interchange and the West LRT.

That's better than former Ward 3 Alderman Laroque putting on her website in 2010 that during her term (2004 -2007)she helped with the completion of the new Police HQ on McKnight.

The Police HQ was barely under construction in 2010, never mind 2004-7.

[Bigtime]

I see he is already getting called out on that "Glenmore/37th" claim on twitter, can't wait to see if he responds.

[troutman]

I saw Nenshi a couple of times over the weekend at the Film Festival. It is Beatlemania wherever he goes. The guy is a rock star in this town.

[Slava]

Who is responsible for that? Wasn't that completed in 2010 basically right after the election?

[You Need a Thneed]

Gian-Carlo Carra ‏@gccarra 21m
I have this nagging feeling like I'm forgetting something important, but sod it, I'm taking the morning off.

[Bunk]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...397/story.html

Approval ratings going into the election

Mayor Nenshi - 83%
Council as a whole - 62%

Mayor's performance during flood - 90% (74% excellent, 16% good)

I'm off today on vacation (why I'm posting anything on election during the daytime).

[Bigtime]

In other news Stephen Carter is planning on going to war against the Calgary Sun during the election (selected twitter exchange below):

Michael Platt (writer for the Sun):

@carter_ab Are you actually involved in the #yyccc vote this year, or just enlightening us lessers from the sidelines?

Carter's reply:

@SUNMichaelPlatt Mostly trying to ensure Calgary's fastest growing newspaper is held to account when they spew s**t.

Platt's reply:

@carter_ab Whoa, corn flakes tainted with urine this morning, Stevie? It was a serious question. Are you involved?

Carter responds:

.@SUNMichaelPlatt Serious answer. All I care about this election is fighting with you and the dinger.

He appears to be going into beast mode on this, should be entertaining for the next few weeks.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

In other news Stephen Carter is planning on going to war against the Calgary Sun during the election (selected twitter exchange below):

Michael Platt (writer for the Sun):

Carter's reply:

Platt's reply:

Carter responds:

He appears to be going into beast mode on this, should be entertaining for the next few weeks.

So I take it he isn't officially involved anywhere?