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

[Flames0910]

^That's all well and good but Dave's done.

For the record I wasn't anti-Dave either. He spoke at a UofC Business student event downtown and came across as a really intelligent mayor. I was impressed.

But that's the past. IMHO Nenshi is the future. I'm optimistic about what he can do for our city.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

Maybe for Ric, but you don't know that. Barb hardly has any funding.

I don't know what? You made the following claims:

- All three candidates are against urban sprawl.

- Urban sprawl and/or any solutions to it are a dead topic.

- They (the three front-running mayoral candidates) will be against urban sprawl.

- They're (again, the three front-running mayoral candidates) not funded by developers.

All false.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

He also voted for the 3$ Park N' Ride fee, and now promises to lower it, but won't say how, and won't say why he supported it in the first place.

To me this shows that he can see that something is not popular; and rather than making it a hill to die upon he admits it was a bad idea and is going to reverse it.

To me it's a little refreshing to see a politician who can admit that he is wrong.

I also like that when I have spoken to him in person about issues we disagree on, he hears me out, tells me why he is still going against what I think is right. Leaves me with the ability to respect him.

[Joborule]

I gotta disagree on Barb being a choice for mayor. From how much she wants to avoid tough questions, debates, and from what she has shown when she actually have had to speak, she just seems like someone who will easily bend and can't stand up to the heat when people start grilling on her. She doesn't present to me that she would have the backbone for this job. Developers are probably going to chew her up and spit her out to get their ways.

As for Bronco. I actually like his time as mayor and thought he did what he had to do for the most part. I disagree though that the city will be missing him years down the road however, as long as we get a mayor that can resolve the issues of the city now and establish a great foundation for the future. I find Nenshi to be this person, and if he gets elected, the city will continue to build it's quality of life and strive towards being a world class city.

[Flames0910]

I also like that when I have spoken to him in person about issues we disagree on, he hears me out, tells me why he is still going against what I think is right. Leaves me with the ability to respect him.

Definitely. I respect the three frontrunners, even McIver. I think they're all passionate about the city and know what they're talking about.

However I only want one of them to lead this city and that's Nenshi.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

Maybe for Ric, but you don't know that. Barb hardly has any funding.

While she may not be funded by the developers, is she strong enough to withstand the siege that the development industry will embark upon to defend the status quo?

One of the most important things that Nenshi has done is mobilized the people and allowed them to take back their city by taking back City Hall. For many years a developer led coalition has dictated City Hall's agenda and, finally, Nenshi has helped amass a coalition that is powerful enough to switch the agenda. The citizens of Calgary are a major part of this coalition that is made formidable through citizen awareness and conciousness.

[jjgallow]

frinkprof:

I said they weren't funded by developers "like Bronco". It's implied that I don't know all the donations, because they've not been made fully public. Bronco came from the developer industry and supported urban sprawl from the beginning. None of these candidates have.

Only 9% of respondents see urban sprawl as their priority, and it ranks a very, very distant sixth. That was in April, and construction has slowed steadily since then. If it's a hot topic for you, I understand. But the economy has blunted our urban sprawl, period.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...-election.html

Barb's platform is clearly against urban sprawl. It is more documented than any other candidate. With all due respect, you should read her platform before voting.
She intends to implement the Plan-It document, which was muted by developer interests.
http://barbhiggins.ca/issues/planning-development.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...t-calgary.html
http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/...lgary_plan.pdf

Nenshi will not use this document because he thinks his ideas are better still, even though he doesn't say what they are, other than "every community should be like Garrison Woods".

McIvor is also against urban sprawl, admittedly the least of the three candidates. I'm not going to go out of my way supporting him (I'm voting for Barb), but he is clearly against and has voted against urban sprawl.
http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+H.../Biography.htm

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

frinkprof:

I said they weren't funded by developers "like Bronco". It's implied that I don't know all the donations, because they've not been made fully public. Bronco came from the developer industry and supported urban sprawl from the beginning. None of these candidates have.

Been in a cave?

[jjgallow]

Originally Posted by Addick

While she may not be funded by the developers, is she strong enough to withstand the siege that the development industry will embark upon to defend the status quo?

She is the strongest of the three, imho. She is the only candidate thus far which has shown full integrity.

Both Ric and Nenshi have bashed Barb and each other. Barb has bashed neither, and focused solely on outlining solutions and her vision. She has Purposely avoided negative remarks about the other candidates, and while this may come across to some as weak, I see it as an integrity that only a political outsider can offer.

[jjgallow]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Been in a cave?

have a link?

and not just a list, something with dollars.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

McIvor is also against urban sprawl, admittedly the least of the three candidates. I'm not going to go out of my way supporting him (I'm voting for Barb), but he is clearly against and has voted against urban sprawl.
http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+H.../Biography.htm

Huh? McIver voted against Plan-It IIRC. So while he says he's against sprawl in his campaign, it would seem he caved to the developers wishes and implicitly supported it in the past.

[FiftyBelow]

Ok so big deal... all three are against urban sprawl... you do know that there are lots of issues out there that have mutual agreement. IE. better transit, better accountability, better_____ etc. People aren't stupid and they recognize that. But the thing is some candidates have actually offered solutions and comprehensive plans on how to do so. Thats what distinguishes the pack. Nenshi has actually put out detail plans and proposals. McIver has but not near the level of Nenshi's platform. Barb..... well its like her platform was written for the teleprompter with soundbites instead of detail.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

Only 9% of respondents see urban sprawl as their priority, and it ranks a very, very distant sixth. That was in April, and construction has slowed steadily since then. If it's a hot topic for you, I understand. But the economy has blunted our urban sprawl, period.

The way in which sprawl is funded affects the other issues that people believe to be a higher priority. For instance, the current subdivision infrastructure servicing agreement is the largest contributor to the City's debt.

[The Goon]

I am still having a hard time deciding who to go with for mayor. I have been leaning towards Joe Connelly all the time, and I may end up going with him.

Still, there have been some interesting proposals from Naheed Nenshi and Ric McIver. I will have to sleep on it.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

despite all the rampant rumors that she has no platform, she is the Only remaining candidate that has offered any tangible, attainable solutions to Calgary's budget crisis.

Nice try, Ms Higgins.

[jjgallow]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

Ok so big deal... all three are against urban sprawl... you do know that there are lots of issues out there that have mutual agreement. IE. better transit, better accountability, better_____ etc. People aren't stupid and they recognize that. But the thing is some candidates have actually offered solutions and comprehensive plans on how to do so. Thats what distinguishes the pack. Nenshi has actually put out detail plans and proposals. McIver has but not near the level of Nenshi's platform. Barb..... well its like her platform was written for the teleprompter with soundbites instead of detail.

Lol, fair enough. I just don't see Nenshi's solutions myself. I also fail to see "Purple" as a solution. What I see are gimmicks, and that's illustrated best by his "Purple Revolution" slogan. I think he has taken the lead on this forum (and possibly twitter), but not with Calgary.

I'm signing off...my final thought: I wish Nenshi had ran for Alderman. I would have voted for him in that position, but when I read his "platform" all I see is criticism, negativity, and gimmicks. Even after reading through all his positive points in this forum, I have yet to see any concrete solutions he has to offer. It's much easier to criticize than to solve.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

She is the strongest of the three, imho. She is the only candidate thus far which has shown full integrity.

Both Ric and Nenshi have bashed Barb and each other. Barb has bashed neither, and focused solely on outlining solutions and her vision. She has Purposely avoided negative remarks about the other candidates, and while this may come across to some as weak, I see it as an integrity that only a political outsider can offer.

Integrity isn't the only thing that's needed in a leader, you need to will and strength to respond to criticism constructively amongst other things. Her remarks during this campaign (most notably with the artsvote incident) have shown that while she is well intentioned she too thin skinned to do a good job atm. Would you want your mayor to throw a tantrum every time a reporter asks an insulting question? What about other alderman and administrators?

[jjgallow]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Integrity isn't the only thing that's needed in a leader, you need to will and strength to respond to criticism constructively amongst other things. Her remarks during this campaign (most notably with the artsvote incident) have shown that while she is well intentioned she too thin skinned to do a good job atm. Would you want your mayor to throw a tantrum every time a reporter asks an insulting question? What about other alderman and administrators?

I watched that artsvote incident. She was very polite with McCourt.

This guy went on and on about how Barb must have done a lot of thinking in her "kitchen".

Then he called one of her staff, and former campaign manager a "political screwup".

I watched that entire video, and at no point did she throw a tantrum. She stood up to the reporter, showing the exact kind of strength Calgary needs.

Off camera, she made an off-handed comment to the artsvote kids who were asking ridicuous, ridiculous questions to begin with. I thought long and hard about this: It showed honesty and it was overblown because she was a woman. Both Nenshi and Ric have used the word "crap" at various times in their campaign and it drew no attention whatsoever. It was Highly overblown.

If you want to see a "tantrum", look at the leading candidate for Toronto mayor. Then tell me how Barb's off-camera "crap" remark even made the news.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOi2wIUCTnA

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

She is the strongest of the three, imho. She is the only candidate thus far which has shown full integrity.

Both Ric and Nenshi have bashed Barb and each other. Barb has bashed neither, and focused solely on outlining solutions and her vision. She has Purposely avoided negative remarks about the other candidates, and while this may come across to some as weak, I see it as an integrity that only a political outsider can offer.

No, she just aims her negative remarks at the voting populace while ducking out of debates with the other candidates.

Barb may have "integrity", but I would like to know if the same could be said of the people pulling her strings.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by jjgallow

have a link?

and not just a list, something with dollars.

http://www.ricmciver.ca/wp-content/u...24Sept2007.pdf

http://accountability.nenshi.ca/

http://calgarypolitics.com/2010/10/03/wallet2/