Calgary Civic Election Poll #3: The race heats up

[Bigtime]

Oh shoot, now I have to change my vote.

"Opened up the crate and the damn things dead, upchucked its bamboo."

[Joborule]

Man, is it just me, or has Barb Higgins campaign been a total trainwreck? She's not making this easy on herself at all and giving much to gain votes.

[GGG]

Does the mayor have any real power compared to that of Alderman or is it more of a ego thing. Yes they represent us to the province and the feds but the agenda they put forth is set by council.

So shouldn't some of the lesser candidates and even many of the former Aldermen who won't win have ran as Aldermen instead to have their agenda and vision put in to place. What makes someone who isn't polling top 5 at the start of a campaign run? When they would likely have a better chance of becoming an Alderman.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by GGG

Does the mayor have any real power compared to that of Alderman or is it more of a ego thing. Yes they represent us to the province and the feds but the agenda they put forth is set by council.

So shouldn't some of the lesser candidates and even many of the former Aldermen who won't win have ran as Aldermen instead to have their agenda and vision put in to place. What makes someone who isn't polling top 5 at the start of a campaign run? When they would likely have a better chance of becoming an Alderman.

I think you're right. Take Jon Lord. The only reasons that I can see for him to run are:

A) He wants to see more #jonlord1st on twitter (and who doesn't really!)

B) He is going to take another run as MLA

Otherwise running when you're as far back as he is makes no sense?

Wayne Stewart is really mind-boggling though. I heard an amazing dollar amount for his expenditures today....I don't know that they are accurate so I'm not going to post it. I only bring that up because he has spent a lot of money and I think sitting at about 1.5%. For a guy who is really interested in helping the homeless and things of that nature I just wonder why he wouldn't drop out and donate the money somewhere?

[jdso]

It wouldn't surprise me to see how much Stewart has spent. Seems like he has a ton of big signs out to go along with his billboards and bus ads.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by jdso

It wouldn't surprise me to see how much Stewart has spent. Seems like he has a ton of big signs out to go along with his billboards and bus ads.

Which is why I believe the number I heard. Thing is that you still have to raise that $5k at a time....so its a lot of donors.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by GGG

Does the mayor have any real power compared to that of Alderman or is it more of a ego thing. Yes they represent us to the province and the feds but the agenda they put forth is set by council.

So shouldn't some of the lesser candidates and even many of the former Aldermen who won't win have ran as Aldermen instead to have their agenda and vision put in to place. What makes someone who isn't polling top 5 at the start of a campaign run? When they would likely have a better chance of becoming an Alderman.

I agree - the mayor may be the most influential voice on council, but at the end of the day just has one vote. That's why I don't understand why Connelly and Hawksworth are running for mayor - I can't imagine why either ever thought they had a chance. Though the mayor does make more money than aldermen.

[Tyler]

Great point and Im glad this has been brought up.

Mayor has tie-breaker power, but yes, he only has one vote.

All this nonsense about how these guys are going to come in and do this and that and change City Hall and all that other garbage is just grandstanding.

They're APART OF, but not above COUNCIL

[Cscutch]

I don't know if this is correct or not but I heard that the one thing the Mayor has for power, is that they assist in helping set the agenda for the council meetings.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Great point and Im glad this has been brought up.

Mayor has tie-breaker power, but yes, he only has one vote.

All this nonsense about how these guys are going to come in and do this and that and change City Hall and all that other garbage is just grandstanding.

They're APART OF, but not above COUNCIL

This.

It would be difficult for any mayor to come in and make sweeping changes and get to implement his/her agenda. The makeup of council is important as well, and each alderman will have his/her own initiatives and issues that they want to see addressed and will raise in council.

On that note, what predictions do people have for the aldermanic races? Post only your own/those you are familiar with if that's the case.

Ward 1: Chris Harper finally knocks Dale Hodges out of the seat he's occupied since the (first) Reagan administration.

Ward 2: Gord Lowe stands pat

Ward 3: Jim Stevenson holds onto his seat

Ward 4: Honestly don't know. Up in the air with so many candidates in Hawkesworth's old ward. I haven't followed this one too closely.

Ward 5: Ray Jones is re-elected. I wish this weren't the case, but the realist in me predicts that.

Ward 6: Another one that's up in the air, but I'd have to go with Brent Mielke. He was first out of the gate and seems to have run a decent campaign and attained some visibility.

Ward 7: Farrell

Ward 8: With regrets to Zak Pashak, I think Mar will win again.

Ward 9: Like wards 4 and 6, up in the air. Not sure on a prediction, but I hope for Gian-Carlo Carra

Ward 10: Without much competition, the worst alderman on the last city council wins again: Andre Chabot. Damn shame.

Ward 11: One of the most interesting races in the city. I think it will come down to the wire between Pincott and Maxim. I'd have to give the edge to the incumbent though, Pincott, if for no other reason than it's the historical trend

Ward 12: In McIver's old ward, it's a toss-up between 4 or 5 guys who, well, don't seem to be all that different from each other (or McIver) policy-wise. I think this one goes to Shane Keating though, who seems to have the most visibility from what I can tell.

Ward 13: DCU takes the ward she doesn't live in, again

Ward 14: Another one that I think will be close. Although I'm not the biggest Linda Fox-Mellway fan in the world, my wishful thinking picks her over Chandlerite (individual affiliated with Craig Chandler) Peter Demong.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Cscutch

I don't know if this is correct or not but I heard that the one thing the Mayor has for power, is that they assist in helping set the agenda for the council meetings.

Not really. Any member of council can have their motions to council put on the agenda, as can the various committees that the aldermen sit on (audit committee, transportation committee, corporate properties, police and protective services, etc.). Aldermen usually sit on a couple committees and each one will have 4 or 5 aldermen on them, and will meet and hear from various administration and outside sources during their own meetings that are held outside of the council meetings. The committees each have their own chair as well. For instance, Colley-Urquhart was chair of the transportation committee and Pincott of the audit committee. Items can also be added to the agenda during the meeting too, just as they would during a regular business meeting.

The mayor acts as the chair of the council meeting in that he/she sees that the agenda is adhered to, calls for votes, gives the right for members of council (aldermen) to speak and ask questions, etc, opens meetings, adjourns meetings, etc. Yes, he/she also acts as a tie-breaker. In the mayor's absence (they sometimes step out to make other appearances), I believe the deputy mayor usually steps in as chair until the mayor returns. The deputy mayor position is traditionally rotated throughout the aldermen on a monthly basis.

[Cscutch]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 8: With regrets to Zak Pashak, I think Mar will win again.

Hopefully this isn't true, and I think it will be a close race. I was at the ward 8 forum and almost the whole crowd was against Mar. There is a lot of angry residents of ward 8 that do not like John Mar.

Being part of the group that gutted Plan It really looks bad to people that actually live in the most Urban ward.

Chris

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 4: Honestly don't know. Up in the air with so many candidates in Hawkesworth's old ward. I haven't followed this one too closely.

But it's the most exciting one.

Ward 14: Another one that I think will be close. Although I'm not the biggest Linda Fox-Mellway fan in the world, my wishful thinking picks her over Chandlerite (individual affiliated with Craig Chandler) Peter Demong.

Richard Dur is worth a look. http://www.richarddur.ca/

[stevinder]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 1: Chris Harper finally knocks Dale Hodges out of the seat he's occupied since the (first) Reagan administration.

Really hope this happens for the benefit of Ward 1 and the city as a whole. Dale should have done the noble thing and retired. But he is the godfather of Bowness.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 2: Gord Lowe stands pat

Sadly, yes. He needs to take his gov't pensions and enjoy retirement. But....

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 3: Jim Stevenson holds onto his seat

He should be back. Larocque running again is a joke.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 4: Honestly don't know. Up in the air with so many candidates in Hawkesworth's old ward. I haven't followed this one too closely.

A cluster###### to the Ward 4 seat (j/k Jane).

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 5: Ray Jones is re-elected. I wish this weren't the case, but the realist in me predicts that.

Agreed. But, I'd like a surprise there

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 6: Another one that's up in the air, but I'd have to go with Brent Mielke. He was first out of the gate and seems to have run a decent campaign and attained some visibility.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 7: Farrell

I'm undecided whether she should return. Fine for urban issues, but she can be a bit clueless on other issues.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 8: With regrets to Zak Pashak, I think Mar will win again.

My Ward. I've not been impressed with John in his dealings in council. Watching him in a council meeting is watching a green amateur. Undecided, but leaning towards Zak.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 9: Like wards 4 and 6, up in the air. Not sure on a prediction, but I hope for Gian-Carlo Carra

Lots of candidates, anyone's race.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 10: Without much competition, the worst alderman on the last city council wins again: Andre Chabot. Damn shame.

*sigh* Agreed. Ward 10 can do better. But a new council needs someone to provide comic relief, whether they realize it or not.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 11: One of the most interesting races in the city. I think it will come down to the wire between Pincott and Maxim. I'd have to give the edge to the incumbent though, Pincott, if for no other reason than it's the historical trend.

I'd like to see Pincott back, but the Audit issues might be too much to keep him around. BTW, Pincott doesn't live in his Ward either.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 12: In McIver's old ward, it's a toss-up between 4 or 5 guys who, well, don't seem to be all that different from each other (or McIver) policy-wise. I think this one goes to Shane Keating though, who seems to have the most visibility from what I can tell.

Don't really know this race. No comment.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 13: DCU takes the ward she doesn't live in, again

Big Red should stick with running for the Tories. But she'll win with the sheep.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Ward 14: Another one that I think will be close. Although I'm not the biggest Linda Fox-Mellway fan in the world, my wishful thinking picks her over Chandlerite (individual affiliated with Craig Chandler) Peter Demong.

A large field of candidates here too. LFM doesn't deserve another term.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Richard Dur is worth a look. http://www.richarddur.ca/

Upon looking, I disagree. Wasn't worth it.

[RougeUnderoos]

Forgive me if this has been covered, but are any of the candidates running on a one-issue platform based on something like "I'll Make The C-Train Not Suck"?

If so, that guy or gal owns my vote.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Forgive me if this has been covered, but are any of the candidates running on a one-issue platform based on something like "I'll Make The C-Train Not Suck"?

If so, that guy or gal owns my vote.

Paul Hughes the urban chicken farming advocate has dropped out of the race. So too has Greg Berdette (wanted to remove speed on green cameras) and Lawrence Oshanek (some version of civil rights activist).

Bob Hawkesworth has effectively turned himself into a one-issue candidate. He opposes the airport tunnel. Although, to be fair, and more to your post he also strongly advocates bulding the SE LRT.

Everyone else a larger platform that addresses lots of issues, or are "all over the place" fringe candidates like Fech and Devine. All advocate (some vaguely) better transit. Except, of course, for Craig Burrows who wants to build airport LRT instead of SE LRT despite the fact that SELRT's ridership would dwarf that of an airport LRT line both in absolute terms and per dollar spent.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

I agree - the mayor may be the most influential voice on council, but at the end of the day just has one vote. That's why I don't understand why Connelly and Hawksworth are running for mayor - I can't imagine why either ever thought they had a chance. Though the mayor does make more money than aldermen.

With those guys I think they just didn't want to be aldermen anymore, and if they were to continue being part of council, it was as mayor.

While I don't pretend to ever understand why Connelly's does a lot of things, I can think of two possibilities. He wanted his shot at the big chair win or lose (probably lose), and didn't have much interest in another term as alderman. If he doesn't get it, he'll go work in the private sector. The second possibility is that he is arrogant and egotistical enough that he thought he might have a realistic shot at being mayor.

As for Bob, the guy's been on council on and off for 30 years (first elected in 1980, spent time as an MLA, then went back to municipal politics) and probably didn't want that gig anymore. So may as well take a shot at glory and try for the mayor's seat. If he loses (probable), I'd imagine he will retire.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by jdso

It wouldn't surprise me to see how much Stewart has spent. Seems like he has a ton of big signs out to go along with his billboards and bus ads.

Bus ads (at least the ones I did) aren't too expensive.




It is kinda weird seeing your head enlarged. Or things like a lady in Safeway who stopped me and said; "Hey I saw you at the bus stop."

[SebC]

Originally Posted by GGG

Does the mayor have any real power compared to that of Alderman or is it more of a ego thing. Yes they represent us to the province and the feds but the agenda they put forth is set by council.

One of the biggest differences between mayor and alderman is that the mayor is given a mandate by the city as a whole rather than a single ward. That voter support is critical for someone who wants to change the way council and the city operate.