Calgary Civic Election: Mayoralty Poll #4 - The Heat is On

[Bigtime]

Shame on us, how has not a single person voted for Fech yet?

[Cscutch]

Last night I attended the Ward 1 Aldermanic forum. First I don’t live in ward 1 so I am not 100% familiar with the issues that affect the ward 1. I was only doing a favor and taking notes for my parents who could not attend.

Firstly just a quick observation that the crowd at the ward 1 forum was very quiet and reserved compared to the ward 8 crowd forum, also the ward 1 crowd was older, strange considering that this ward consists of the many communities that surround the university.
Major topics discussed:

· Secondary suites
· Cycling infrastructure
· Transit
· NW rec center
· Aldermanic accountability

First impression that all the candidates were very community focused and wanted the best for the area. No real fringe candidates or one issue candidates.
Here is my impression of each candidate:

Dale Hodges

· Very old school, talked a lot about the past, like 30yrs past.
· His campaign material was printed out newspaper unlike the others high gloss print outs.
· Knows a lot about how the city works
· Very conservative, really no new visions on how to do anything.

Norm Perrault

· Very nice person with lots of passion
· Wants change
· Just not educated enough in the issues, no real vision
· Great leader for a small town just not a large city.

Judi Vandenbrink

· Main platform runs on the environment, but does understand the other issues.
· Supports secondary suites but not in all areas, almost felt NIMBYish when she said it.
· Hard to remember anything else, just played it safe, positive things, nothing spectacular

Ric Lockhart

· Someone who wants change, knows the issues, just doesn’t know how to implement.
· Multiple times is answers to questions was community involvement, that is good but are you going to have a ward vote on every issue
· Family oriented.

Bill Scott

· Very good public speaker
· Very business oriented
· Rehashed points other candidates made many times

Chris Harper

· Very good speaker
· Very engaged in ward issues, NW Rec Center & University
· Had some great quotes,” Won’t support PlanIt, he will implement it”
· Very accountable with the citizens, says they have the power, only aldermanic candidate in any ward I think to release donor list.
· Had a chance to speak with him during the intermission, very aware of all issues in Calgary, has a Vision similar to Nenshi, and ideas to back them up.

Chris

[fredr123]

Calgary is ready for a Muslim mayor! Err... I mean background and experience readied Nenshi to be mayor.



From today's sports section in the Calgary Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...052/story.html

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Last night I attended the Ward 1 Aldermanic forum. First I don’t live in ward 1 so I am not 100% familiar with the issues that affect the ward 1. I was only doing a favor and taking notes for my parents who could not attend.

Firstly just a quick observation that the crowd at the ward 1 forum was very quiet and reserved compared to the ward 8 crowd forum, also the ward 1 crowd was older, strange considering that this ward consists of the many communities that surround the university.
Major topics discussed:

· Secondary suites
· Cycling infrastructure
· Transit
· NW rec center
· Aldermanic accountability

Thanks for the notes. A question regarding Chris Harper: what did he say regarding secondary suites? I've been very impressed by him overall, but his literature and social media messages regarding this issue have left me a little puzzled.

[SportsJunky]

Never even occured to me that Nenshi might be a Muslim. Big deal.

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Thanks for the notes. A question regarding Chris Harper: what did he say regarding secondary suites? I've been very impressed by him overall, but his literature and social media messages regarding this issue have left me a little puzzled.

He wasn't part of that question so he didn't get to give a full answer but he did sneak it in a bit about how he supports secondary suites.

But he did also mention if you phone him he will answer any questions that you have for him.

Chris

[CaptainCrunch]

I would have expected that headline from the Sun.

[frinkprof]

Firefox's spell checker knows what's up:

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Firefox's spell checker knows what's up:

I'd also like to point out that Firefox also confirms that McIver is a receiver.....always knew he played the lady.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'd also like to point out that Firefox also confirms that McIver is a receiver.....always knew he played the lady.

Don't forget about all the back door deals it looks like he's promised as well.

[Bunk]

"McGovern" sums up McIver's approach to leading pretty well too.

[Bigtime]

Beating up on Barb, a new mayoral candidate pastime. McIver's quote at the VoteCalgary mayoral forum a few minutes ago:

"I'm running for mayor, not trying to run a tv station"

Ouch!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

Last night I attended the Ward 1 Aldermanic forum. First I don’t live in ward 1 so I am not 100% familiar with the issues that affect the ward 1. I was only doing a favor and taking notes for my parents who could not attend.

Thanks for the recap. Chris Harper is definitely the best choice here. Hodges has just got to go.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Beating up on Barb, a new mayoral candidate pastime. McIver's quote at the VoteCalgary mayoral forum a few minutes ago:

"I'm running for mayor, not trying to run a tv station"

Ouch!

...says the guy who was more interested in running to the TV cameras and guys with notebooks outside of council chambers to talk about issues than discussing them inside council chambers during most of his tenure on council.

[Flames0910]

Bazinga!

McIver's platform is "like people reading the first line of every chapter in a book about budgeting.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...#ixzz10r7CGw5x

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

...says the guy who was more interested in running to the TV cameras and guys with notebooks outside of council chambers to talk about issues than discussing them inside council chambers during most of his tenure on council.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Thanks for the recap. Chris Harper is definitely the best choice here. Hodges has just got to go.

I work with and know Chris, and he has the passion and intelligence to represent Ward 1 well. He has the business sense but is also very approachable, something I think alot of Ward 1 residents will like. The guy will listen to any and all concerns you may have.

If any CP'ers live in Ward 1, please vote for Chris - you won't be disappointed.

[Zee]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Calgary is ready for a Muslim mayor! Err... I mean background and experience readied Nenshi to be mayor.



From today's sports section in the Calgary Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...052/story.html

How does this belong in the sports section? It really appears they made an attempt to pray on fears of bigoted Calgarians, but changed their tune when called out on it. Nenshi has never made a point about his religion. he is born and raised Canadian, and has lived in Calgary most of his life.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Zee

How does this belong in the sports section? It really appears they made an attempt to pray on fears of bigoted Calgarians, but changed their tune when called out on it. Nenshi has never made a point about his religion. he is born and raised Canadian, and has lived in Calgary most of his life.

Or they figured they'd rather not play a part in making religion an election issue. Its quite comical reading all the conspiracy theories on here about how the media is against Nenshi.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Or they figured they'd rather not play a part in making religion an election issue. Its quite comical reading all the conspiracy theories on here about how the media is against Nenshi.

Yeah, you have to take a lot of it with a grain of salt. The media-candidate ties are an interesting thing to discuss though.

Nenshi - former Calgary Herald columnist

Higgins - former longtime CTV News anchor

McIver - Calgary Sun donated to his campaign