2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Slava

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

From his tweets that appears to be what he is saying.

[1stLand]

I just hope Nenshi wins again.
Nenshi has made the City a better place.

Food trucks, Asking alot of 'Tough Questions', engaging with us common folk on Twitter.

I will be voting for Nenshi.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I just hope Nenshi wins again.
Nenshi has made the City a better place.

Food trucks, Asking alot of 'Tough Questions', engaging with us common folk on Twitter.

I will be voting for Nenshi.

I won't be.

Every day I imagine the wonderland we'd be living in if Higgins had been elected.

Or McIver. He would have removed uneccessary costs in the city. Did you know that a gravel park is much cheaper to maintain than a park with grass and trees? This would have meant lower taxes for all of us.

[Table 5]

I too dream of lower taxes at all costs. That way I have more money left over so I can travel...mostly to cities that have nice things like parks with grass and trees.

[Ozy_Flame]

Dr. No approving gravel parks to save a few bucks.

I don't think there could possibly by a drier, more uninteresting direction the city could go in other than this.

But I'm sure his approval rating would eclipse 90%.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by 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).

Hopefully this isn't a given that taxes will be going up 5-10 %. I didn't vote for Nenshi last election and want to hear more from him as to what some of his real plans are going forward before Imake a decision this time.

I just don't like his attitude towards taxpayers. I mean 30%, come on. That $52 million in the grand scheme of things is really probably not a lot but he could have easily given it back as a good gesture to show tha the actually cares about the taxpayers.

So why should I vote for you Nenshi? Tell me something.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Hopefully this isn't a given that taxes will be going up 5-10 %. I didn't vote for Nenshi last election and want to hear more from him as to what some of his real plans are going forward before Imake a decision this time.

I just don't like his attitude towards taxpayers. I mean 30%, come on. That $52 million in the grand scheme of things is really probably not a lot but he could have easily given it back as a good gesture to show tha the actually cares about the taxpayers.

So why should I vote for you Nenshi? Tell me something.

Alot of what Nenshi was working towards has been completed or is in progress. He also had to deal with issues from the last administration with Bronco.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3Yy...UmM/edit?pli=1

Keep in mind, any Calgary mayor only has so much clout to make decisions or impact direction. To slow down tax inflation, that is more than just a mayoral effort - that is a fundamental change in how the city operates / maintains / plans for the future. Council as a whole needs to be on board for a long-term strategic vision, which isn't as easy to accomplish in municipal politics.

[1stLand]

Nenshi was instrumental in negotiating a ring road deal with Tsu Tina was he not?

He is dangerous in debates. I bet he out debated all the chiefs until they finally caved and agreed to the road.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

That $52 million in the grand scheme of things is really probably not a lot but he could have easily given it back as a good gesture to show tha the actually cares about the taxpayers.

It could also quite as easily show the Province that our need for the money to invest in major infrastructure for which we are always asking isn't so dire.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

I just don't like his attitude towards taxpayers.

I can't vote, so take my comment for whatever you think it is worth, but I don't like his general attitude towards those who disagree with him.

Nenshi has a mean and petty streak, and he gives off an "I'm smarter than you" vibe that I find to not be particularly attractive.

I don't think that there is any doubt that the man loves Calgary and that he wants to do what he thinks is best for it and its citizens. I would just prefer a Mayor who doesn't act so petulant when they doesn't get their way.

[getbak]

The candidates for Mayor and Councillors (no more Aldermen, but we still have to call the Mayor "Your Worshipfulness"): http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/...-whos-running/


MAYOR— Larry Heather, Sandra Hunter, Bruce Jackman, Jon Lord, Naheed Nenshi, Milan Papez, Norm Perrault, Carter Thomson

WARD 1— Alan Gillies, Chris Harper, John Hilton O’Brien, Dan Larabie Ward Sutherland, Judi Vandenbrink (Dale Hodges to retire)

WARD 2— Bernie Dowhan, Joe Magliocca, Richard Poon, Shawn Ripley, Terry Wong (Gord Lowe to retire)

WARD 3— Jim Stevenson, Tanveer Taj (ran for CBE in same district last time)

WARD 4— Sean Chu, Michael Hartford,Blair Houston, Gael MacLeod, Yuri Shterngartz

WARD 5—Pritpal Dhaliwal, Bev Hearn, Ray Jones

WARD 6— Bob Bowles, Joe Connelly (won W6 in 2007, ran for mayor in 2010), James Istvanffy (ran in 2001 and 2007), Richard Pootmans

WARD 7— Brent Alexander, Druh Farrell, Joylin Nodwell, Kevin Taylor

WARD 8— John Mar, Ian Newman, Evan Woolley

WARD 9— Gian-Carlo Carra, Jordan Katz, Darwin Lahue, Stan Waciak, Richard Wilkie

WARD 10— Andre Chabot, Nargis Dossa, Numan Hussein

WARD 11— Wayne Frisch, James Maxim, Brian Pincott

WARD 12— Shane Keating, Stephanie Kusie

WARD 13— Diane Colley-Urquhart, Adam Frisch, Scott Sorokoski

WARD 14— Peter Demong, Shawn Kao


Nice to see there will be competition in every Ward. I wonder if Stan Waciak will be on the ballot as Stan "The Man" Waciak like he was last time?


I was looking at some of the candidate's websites, and I believe Larry Heather is claiming that Nenshi is descended from the ancient order of the Assassins. I really think that's something Nenshi should mention more often.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I don't think that there is any doubt that the man loves Calgary and that he wants to do what he thinks is best for it and its citizens. I would just prefer a Mayor who doesn't act so petulant when he (or she) doesn't get their way.

If that's the worst thing about him . . . I'll vote for him in a nan-second. He can get upset over things that he doesn't agree with, as long as he delivers on all his campaign promises, which I believe he has done / is doing.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by 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.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

If that's the worst thing about him . . . I'll vote for him in a nan-second. He can get upset over things that he doesn't agree with, as long as he delivers on all his campaign promises, which I believe he has done / is doing.

Totally agree. He has pushed the city in the right direction and done very well. I couldn't care less about whether he suffers fools well.

[getbak]

Just as I posted the link to the Herald's list, the City posted the official "unofficial" candidates list (it becomes official tomorrow at noon unless someone withdraws): http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgar...es-248467.aspx


Yes, it appears it will be Stan "The Man" again.

Anyone who's a Public School voter in Wards 8 & 9, if you have an opinion (good or bad) on any of the Trustee candidates, it's greatly appreciated.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by SebC

he was telling a joke. I.e. taking the morning off would mean that he wouldn't file nomination papers.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by getbak

Just as I posted the link to the Herald's list, the City posted the official "unofficial" candidates list (it becomes official tomorrow at noon unless someone withdraws): http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgar...es-248467.aspx


Yes, it appears it will be Stan "The Man" again.

Anyone who's a Public School voter in Wards 8 & 9, if you have an opinion (good or bad) on any of the Trustee candidates, it's greatly appreciated.

While I'm a Hehr supporter, and she is definitely more mobilized, I am sending a questionnaire to all of the CBE candidates and will post their answers. I think that as a former candidate who keeps abreast of the CBE it will be a useful resource. I will definitely link each wards results here so you can see what I've asked them and what they reply. My hope is that more people make an informed decision about the trustee vote, and don't just randomly pick a name come election day.

One small caveat is that I might have to pare down some answers, but they're all going to be fully aware off that, in the event they're too verbose.

[CaptainCrunch]

Glad to see at least there's one credible candidate running for mayor. I have no intention of voting for my standing alderman I think Peter Demong is pretty much worthless.

I won't be so easy to sway and vote for the standing mayor in this election.

Here's hoping for some good discussions on key issues.

I would hope that the race is closer this time to knock some of the arrogant off of his purpleness.

[Slava]

Who is running for mayor that is credible? (Nenshi aside obviously)

[MarchHare]

I would hope that the race is closer this time to knock some of the arrogant off of his purpleness.

Very doubtful. In 2010, Nenshi was a relative unknown fighting a very tight three-way race against a popular media personality and a multi-term incumbent alderman. That race was very close, but this election won't be. I'll be absolutely shocked if he doesn't receive at least 60% of the vote this election. I wouldn't even be surprised if he received more than 80%.