2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[Zarley]

I'd prefer a hybrid system consisting of 7 aldermen representing wards and 7 elected at large.

The current system allows community associations to have greater influence than warranted, as aldermen are afraid of the power the associations have in getting their preferred candidates elected. This has lead to a superfluous amount of community consultation on specific city projects and development applications, which is a waste of time and dollars for both taxpayers and developers.

Adding several councilors at large would allow council to focus on what's best for the city as a whole rather than on competing community interests.

[SebC]

Or we could just go to a strong mayor system and let Nenshi rule all!

[Table 5]

The fact that you can even run for a seat that's in a different neighborhood is ridiculous. Especially at the city level, where most of the issues these people deal with are small little details of the neighborhood. How can you expect to know the opinions of your constituents and the nuances of your ward if you don't live there?

The only way this should be allowed is if an existing councillor moves mid-term. However as soon as a new election is up, they have to run in their existing ward.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The fact that you can even run for a seat that's in a different neighborhood is ridiculous. Especially at the city level, where most of the issues these people deal with are small little details of the neighborhood. How can you expect to know the opinions of your constituents and the nuances of your ward if you don't live there?

The only way this should be allowed is if an existing councillor moves mid-term. However as soon as a new election is up, they have to run in their existing ward.

I totally agree. Before the election the majority of the school trustees didn't live in the wards they represented. You have to wonder what the point is then? If it doesn't matter where you live in the city to run as the representative, how far flung does it matter?

I would love to see a system where you have to run where you live, and not just because it would mean I get rid of DCU.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Slava

I would love to see a system where you have to run where you live, and not just because it would mean I get rid of DCU.

Or she'd be your new neighbor.

[Bunk]

9 is one that is truly a Frankenstein of a ward. It also looks like some sort of hideous sea monster. 7 is also a bit funky - but it is hard to balance out population and geography when there are so many irregular things like parks, industrial areas, and ever changing growth patterns in various quadrants. Another weird thing is Royal Oak and Rocky Ridge are in separate Wards, even though they actually share a Community Association.

But I don't think it's necessarily bad that 9 covers more than say just the SE LRT catchment area. I think it's not necessarily healthy that areas of the city are pitted against each other for funding. We're all Calgarians, and funding decisions should be based on need and merit, which is why more objective prioritization criteria are established for sequencing projects.

Of the top 7 Rapid Transit projects identified in RouteAhead, Carra's ward ends up touching 6 (the only one he doesn't have is the SW BRT). This gives him a more balanced view between the North Central corridor and the Southeast for instance, where the (likely) final LRT legs are to be built.

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I think the Ward system is a good system, they just need to re draw the maps.

I live in Ward 9 and even on an issue like the SE LRT - I cant see more than 1/2 the riding being affected by it so how does one vote on the issue when 1/2 are probably for it and 1/4 are probably against and 1/4 are 50/50.

I grant that is a very difficult ward to draw given the industrial parks, but I cant see how the interest of Bridgeland and Ogden can ever be truly represented.

[puffnstuff]

Any other Ward twelvians? Just 2 candidates, the incumbent and looks like a former Calgarian returned home.
Honest question here...what has Keating done? Not much on either candidates website, other than the obvious Ward issues and platitudes.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

In a city the size of Calgary it's the only reasonable option. Mayors need to be elected city wide but councillors not so much. What do you propose?

I've said this before already. No ward system removes the need for localized lobbying (in primitive terms: you vote for something in my ward and I will support a motion for something in yours). It also eliminates getting elected based on a single item platform. We are electing municipal government that will run the whole city. Ward system allows amoeba-like politicians like Linda Fox-Mellway, Craig Burrows, Barry Erskine and Patti Grier to get elected and re-elected many times despite their complete luck of issue comprehension. I can go on and on.

The argument of difficulties for candidates from "not too trendy areas" expressed by someone earlier is invalid. In reality, any large group - local or ethnic - can rally behind a candidate, trendy or not, if they really want him or her elected just like they would under the ward system.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I've said this before already. No ward system removes the need for localized lobbying (in primitive terms: you vote for something in my ward and I will support a motion for something in yours). It also eliminates getting elected based on a single item platform. We are electing municipal government that will run the whole city. Ward system allows amoeba-like politicians like Linda Fox-Mellway, Craig Burrows, Barry Erskine and Patti Grier to get elected and re-elected many times despite their complete luck of issue comprehension. I can go on and on.

The argument of difficulties for candidates from "not too trendy areas" expressed by someone earlier is invalid. In reality, any large group - local or ethnic - can rally behind a candidate, trendy or not, if they really want him or her elected just like they would under the ward system.

But what do you suggest instead?

[CaptainYooh]

Council members are elected by the whole city, just like mayor.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Council members are elected by the whole city, just like mayor.

Ok, but how would the voting work? Do people vote for the seat, or is like the top 12 votegetters?

As a voter, I don't want a ton of choices to vote for, or a ton of votes to cast.

[CaptainYooh]

Well, that's democracy at its best (or worst). Whoever clears the nomination criteria would be on the list, just like mayoral candidates. If it's 14 members, then it's 14 top voted. As a voter you would be casting 15 votes for the council members you want to elect.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by SebC

Or we could just go to a strong mayor system and let Nenshi rule all!

This would work well when you have a great, well respected mayor like Nenshi in office. What happens when a guy like McIver gets in and decides to make sweeping changes that the general public doesn't agree with?

Remember that Nenshi was elected with around 40% of the popular vote last time. Forget that he has such high approval ratings now - would it be reasonable for a guy who only received 40% to institute his agenda without proper checks and balances?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

This would work well when you have a great, well respected mayor like Nenshi in office. What happens when a guy like McIver gets in and decides to make sweeping changes that the general public doesn't agree with?

Remember that Nenshi was elected with around 40% of the popular vote last time. Forget that he has such high approval ratings now - would it be reasonable for a guy who only received 40% to institute his agenda without proper checks and balances?

I find that unlikely compared to the scenario where councillors block the mayor against the wishes of the general public, as happened with secondary suites. Because people generally pay more attention to the mayoral race than the councillor races, we might be less likely to get a mayor we don't like with a strong mayor system than a council we don't like under the current system.

To use an American analogy, Obama might have his detractors, but he's sure as heck more popular than congress!

As for the 40% issue, instant runoff voting solves that problem.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Well, that's democracy at its best (or worst). Whoever clears the nomination criteria would be on the list, just like mayoral candidates. If it's 14 members, then it's 14 top voted. As a voter you would be casting 15 votes for the council members you want to elect.

I am an engaged voter.

I would have no idea who to vote for if I had 15 people to vote for. It would just be a race to see which candidates had the most money to put up signs and get name recognition on the ballet.

Oh wait, it makes complete sense that you would support something like that. given your post history...

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Despite what many people think, Druh is very good for Calgary. Losing her would be a big loss.

Having a few councilors around who actually DO want to spend money, beautify the City, and make it a better place is a good balance to have in council.

Druh is very good for Druh and the developers lining her pockets.

[bizaro86]

Did anyone go to the ward 2 forum? I couldn't make it, but would be interested in hearing impressions...

The Herald had some coverage, apparently Magliocca proposed an elevated train from Airdrie to Okotoks with a stop in downtown Calgary, that ward two residents could drive east and pick up in Beddington.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...797/story.html

Aside from not helping Ward 2 residents in any way, shape or form, it also demonstrates a surprising lack of reasonableness. Commuter rail should be the cities last rail priority, imo. Maybe once we have 8 Ctrain lines (including a ring train).

Ward two comments in general?

[MoneyGuy]

It seems to me that anyone who campaigns on an elevated train like that is out of touch and is not thinking logically. If I lived there...pass.

[You Need a Thneed]

It was a double decker train, not an elevated train that he proposed.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Did anyone go to the ward 2 forum? I couldn't make it, but would be interested in hearing impressions...

The Herald had some coverage, apparently Magliocca proposed an elevated train from Airdrie to Okotoks with a stop in downtown Calgary, that ward two residents could drive east and pick up in Beddington.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...797/story.html

Aside from not helping Ward 2 residents in any way, shape or form, it also demonstrates a surprising lack of reasonableness. Commuter rail should be the cities last rail priority, imo. Maybe once we have 8 Ctrain lines (including a ring train).

Ward two comments in general?

Why should Calgary taxpayers fund public transit that will mostly be for the benefit of parasite communities? If the citizens of Airdrie and Okotoks want a commuter rail system that will take them into Calgary, they can pay for it (potentially with financial support from the provincial and federal governments, but certainly not from our municipal coffers).