Calgary Civic Election: Ward 6 Discussion

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Just elect someone better than Connelly.

Please.

As long as Henry Sims (aformentioned angry turtleneck dude) doesn't get elected, I think we're okay.





Another thing to note, I think the Milk Man has paid for the top result in Google-Adwords when you google any one of the competing candidates. Pricey

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by mandm

Hi there - full disclosure, I actually came across this website trying to find some Calgary poltical forums. Though I root for the Flames, I'm not a hockey die-hard. But I do love politics and you guys seem the most enaged so far.

Anyway, I've been to two of the debates now with the Ward 6 Aldermen - a traffic one in Richmond Hill, where I live, and the Civicamp one. I was on the fence in terms of who to vote for but I think I'm going with Yannitsos. He came across very strongly in both debates. I live on a busy street in Richmond Hill and about 1/3 of the people at that forum want access to our street shut down and the other 2/3 don't but that 1/3 tends to be the most vocal. I was leaning towards Royer until he basically pandered to that 1/3 and made ridiculous promises that he can't keep. Mielke was good, but I just think Yannitsos has a better governance background as well as a commitment to cultural events. Incidentally, he was also the only person to offer condolensces to Coral Turner (who had a death in the family and couldn't be there) and direct people to talk to her husband. Even the moderator didn't do that until after Yannitsos did it first. At the RH debate, he was the only one to congratulate all the candidates. I am a sucker for social grace I guess, and I thought they were kind and generous things to do, and they came off as genuine. he also made a couple of self-deprecating jokes which I found kind of charming, since all those guys seemed to be taking themselves SOOOO seriously.

Royers mixed up the meaning of cognizant and cognitive and kept using the word densiVIcation, which annoyed me bcs I'd like my rep to understand the big words he uses (or makes up in that case). Pootmans doesn't live in the Ward and I think he's actually a pod person trying to steal the earth's water. The other candidates came off as pretty nice guys who have worked hard in their communities, but I just thought Yannitsos has the better background and policy stands. Oh, and Pootmans didn't know what a conflict of interest was either. That was encouraging!

With no more debates until election day, that's where I stand right now. I'm really enjoying the discussion here. Please don't kick me off or flame me. Go Flames!

Very sneaky, Mr. Yannitsos. Very sneaky.

[mandm]

lol. I'm a girl.

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by mandm

lol. I'm a girl.

Well then. Very sneaky Mrs. Yannitsos. Very sneaky.

J/k, welcome to the boards!

[mandm]

thanks!

[Ducay]

Its cool, if we are fine with the Milk-man coming and posting, we should at least let someone for Yani's Souvlaki come post as well.

Balances things out.

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Its cool, if we are fine with the Milk-man coming and posting, we should at least let someone for Yani's Souvlaki come post as well.

Balances things out.

Fair enough. Maybe the mods can let us know if someone registers the username HardPooMan.

[mandm]

I love souvlaki! Maybe it would take free souvlaki all around to win this election. Free poo I'm not so big on though - even if it's free, it still stinks.

[jbot]

Hey,
I've noticed alot of people saying that Randy Royer wants to shut down 34 ave., but theres more to it then that. The point is that he wants to break the cycle of using that road as an entry to westhills. The end result would hopefully be an alternative where cars could naturally get to westhills without going through an otherwise quiet neighborhood, through a road wrapping around westhills.
Also I've noticed Randy Royer being referred to as 'Anders-light'. Not entirely sure what this means but it cant be complimentary. Royer's book is mostly his views on the importance of democracy, something he and Anders do not have in common.

I have found that Royer is really good at getting back to people and if you go to his website:http://www.randyroyer.com/.
In the bottom right hand corner is the contact where you get his direct e-mail address (i don't feel comfortable putting someone else's e-mail on a public forum). I didn't do his platforms justice, so if you are at all wavering I would contact him before making a decision either way.
He is also is very open to people's suggestions as well. If you havent noticed I am a fervent Royer supporter.
I am so down for free souvlaki!

[DimiDimi]

Hey guys,

My name is Stefan Dimic and I have the privilege of being Rad Dimic's son.

I mean my dad definitely does have a unique sense of fashion. But come on, it was Stampede and fanny pacs are a Euro thing. You don't wanna put everything in your jean pockets and you don't wanna carry a male purse. The next best thing is a fanny pack. You can put your note pad in there, cell, keys, wallet, and even Tylenol- which came in handy for me during those Stampede days after a night of good old line dancing and do se do.

But anyway, I am not going to give u a spiel on why you should vote for my dad. The website:
http://rad4ward6.ca and the Facebook page Elect Rad Dimic for Ward 6 Alderman can sell you on that.

I want to tell you the compassionate nature that this man has towards other people and how much he cares that they get what they want.

It was a winter in late 2001 and I and Rad were at a Calgary-Phoenix game. See I wasn't a bandwagon fan, I liked the Flames even when they weren't so hot. Somehow we always ended up watching the Coyotes come to town, but it didn't matter. I was there to see my hero, Jarome Iginla. We didn't go often but when we did it was always a treat. I would put on my jersey and scream my lungs out every time Iginla touched the puck. That particular game I really kept talking about Iggy to my dad. How I wanted to be like him when I grew up- doing what I love, having a blond wife and being loaded. I think I am kinda getting there these days lol

Anyway, the game eventually ended and we went home. I was sad to see the night end. A few months later it was just before bed time and my dad came into my room. He messed with my hair and wished me goodnight. Before I went to bed he handed me something. It was a piece of paper. But what was on it was worth gold to me; a signature and a greeting from Iggy himself. I couldn't believe it. I hugged my dad and went on my dial up internet to brag to my friends.

It turned out that my dad had driven Iggy in one of his many nights as a cabbie. He told him how much I idolized him and the rest was history.

See, that's the kind of father my dad is. He is selfless. He fought for me until I got what I really desired. And that's how he will fight for the residence of Ward 6, and the City of Calgary. I know that he will give the people what they truly deserve, and what they have desired for a long time.

Vote for Rad Dimic for Ward 6 Alderman, because he really is People's Choice.

[mandm]

I though Rad came across as very genuine in the debates I saw - a really nice man. But not very strong on policy. And he doesn't live in the ward. For me, that's a big thing.

[jbot]

ya that's a big thing for me too. I hear there are three of them that aren't from the ward. I know pootmans is one of them, big nono for me.
As for living in the ward I see Yannitos has lived in the ward for like twenty years, and Royer has lived here for like thirty years.

[DimiDimi]

You are right that Rad is a genuine and nice guy. Honest as well. My grandpa was like that too. He is one of the happiest men in the world these days, with the arrival of his granddaughter Katarina.

I also saw that Mr.Yannitos was thought to have been the only one to initiate the condolences to Mrs. Coral Turner. However my dad did this as well, right after the forum that was held that night. He did not need to be directed by Mr.Yannitos as he has very good relations with Mrs. Coral Turner. He gave condolences to her husband and told him to greet her. He felt it was a private matter and did not want to publicize this by uttering it at the forum.

As for policy, it’s self-explanatory really. My dad is a member of the Wild Rose Alliance Party and he supports Mrs. Danielle Smith. He has a clear opinion on all of the City issues which can be found on his website. He understands that there is a need to return honesty, dignity, trust and transparency to the City Hall. He also supports the rights of people with disabilities, single parents, senior citizens and low income families. He is People's Choice and People's Voice. He likes to fight for people of Ward 6 to have a better life.

He has been part of Ward 6 until the Ward lines had been redrawn from the upcoming election. However that's just a couple of lines on a map. Ward 6 has been his life. Even without his weekly Tim Hortons meet ups for the campaign, he is a regular there. Every day before his job he goes to Tims to chat up random residents of the Ward. With a simple smile and warm interactions, he betters their day. Some of the customers he drives for Checker Cab, live in Ward 6. They choose to share their stories with him and he listens. A lot of them have suggested that he runs for Alderman just because of sincerity and kindness he possesses. During his time off, he visits friends in neighbouring communities such as Cougar Ridge. He is always willing to lend a hand. Few weeks ago, his friend needed help with putting up a fence. He rearranged his schedule so he would have at least a few hours of free time to help him. He put his neighbour’s needs ahead of his own. Heck, that's what he always does.

He is happy that all communities from former Yugoslavia are united to support him- but he would like that all people from Ward 6 are behind him-regardless of religion or ethnic background.

His destiny hasn't been clearer. He will be the new Alderman of Ward 6.

Vote for Rad Dimic for Ward 6 Alderman, because he really is People's Choice!

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by DimiDimi

Vote for Rad Dimic for Ward 6 Alderman, because he really is People's Choice!

I don't mean to be offensive considering the Communist history in what was then known as Yugoslavia, but that slogan sounds just a little too Maoist for my liking.

[Freeway]

The reason that everyone is starting to use 34th Ave/Sierra Morena Boulevard to get into Westhills is because of the rapid expansion of the area AND the LRT construction. Shutting down 34th Ave or building a wacky round-about way of getting into the area won't solve the main problem - congestion. It'll just make it worse.

[mandm]

lol@ben.

I agree with the above. Having basically grown up on the boulevard there, the traffic sucks, but shutting it down or building the "wacky round-about" as you put it aren't going to work and it will just divert traffic to other parts of the neighbourhood, like around the school zone further up which is already a nightmare from what I can see.

Has anyone actually voted in the advance polls? I've been debating. I like the finality of election day, but I'm thinking of going today to vote at St. Thomas and getting it over with.

[yads]

I voted already at city hall. We have a baby so instead of dragging her to the polling office on election day and waiting in line, I figured that I'd vote early over my lunch break.

[Ducay]

So CP.... who will win? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?

[Caged Great]

I will be voting for Brent Mielke. He seems to be the most interested candidate, and was the only candidate to actually go door to door anywhere in our neighbourhood (not sending out staffers)

Actually I was quite shocked that none of the candidates bothered to show up anywhere in our area other than sending random staffers out. In my opinion, if you can't be bothered to actually show any interest in the area, why the heck should you get my vote. Poor decision making on all the other candidates parts, and hopefully they all lose the election because of it.

[Aeneas]

We had Pootmans at the door. Must have missed any others.

Still not sure who to vote for. Between Mielke and Yannitsos I think.

Funny sight of Pootmans and Royer both campaigning at 69th and Glenmore the other day. I went by once and they were both apart waving to all. On the way home they were together having an animated discussion; almost typed "heated", settled for "animated".