2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[darklord700]

The low turnout maybe a blessing in disguise. Generally, people who are happy with their life, jobs and finance don't care much about voting. When you are sitting on a pile of cash like Nucky Thomson does, who cares about a few percentage point more of property tax or if the $52M is refunded to you or not. I'm saying people in Calgary are making decent to good money and the job situation is good. Sure traffic could use some work but other than that we are generally happy with out situations so why go out and vote.

Whether it is one mayor to the next, I don't think it'll matter too much other than a few hundred bucks more or less of property tax increase or whether we get to eat shark fin in Chinatown or not.

By the same token I wouldn't mind swapping mayor with Edmonton to get to see Dave Iveson's picture on Sun's front page for the next few years.

[KelVarnsen]

I feel bad for Serena, her dad still has lots of signs up.

[Bigtime]

Still waiting on the Ward 1 recount results. Apparently a ballot box went missing from the Foothills hospital location, but it does not contain enough ballots to play a factor in the recount (or so we are being told at this point).

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Bunk

People never characterize province's increase in revenue as "tax hikes" when hey derive, for example, a year-over-year increase of 12% (2011-2012) in revenue from personal and corporate taxes. Theirs grows naturally with population and the economy. Our tax system requires a manual mill-rate adjustment because it's revenue neutral and is on a shifting assessment base. It's tough politically every single year.

I think the city as part of the revenue neutral re-balancing should include a 3% increase for inflation every year. So if council does nothing they still get the revenue required. This makes it harder for council to justify any new increases because it is clearly new money and makes it easier for council to take credit for cuts. If council were to cut taxes by 1% it would come out as a 3% increase. To often inflation is used as an argument to increase taxes. It would also help in union negotiations by providing justification for limiting wage increases to 3%.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Still waiting on the Ward 1 recount results. Apparently a ballot box went missing from the Foothills hospital location, but it does not contain enough ballots to play a factor in the recount (or so we are being told at this point).

Good lord. I hate these kinds of things because they always make the outcome questionable.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Slava

Good lord. I hate these kinds of things because they always make the outcome questionable.

Even though it is missing they seem to know an awful lot about what the contents were:

-43 missing ballots
-16 for Mayor
-15 for Councillor
-8 for Public Trustee
-4 for Separate Trustee

Those Councillor and trustee ballots are for multiple wards too. Largest amount for any ward was 3 & 5 with 3 ballots each. So I think we are safe to say it won't affect the Ward 1 outcome.

[Bigtime]

Ok, this recount is killing me know. Results please!

[Tyler]

Ward Sutherland wins the race by 86 votes.

[Bigtime]

Boooooo

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Boooooo

Ward is a great guy.

I hope he makes a believer out of you.

[You Need a Thneed]

Ward may be a great guy, and may yet be a good councillor. I think Harper would have been a better councillor, though.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by JBR

Ward is a great guy.

I hope he makes a believer out of you.

Agreed. He's an amazing guy with great character.
I'm not going to take anything away from Harper at all, but I've worked closely with Ward over the past year. He has a serious passion for the community and past business experience that makes me positive he will be a great Councillor.

[Ozy_Flame]

Will give Ward a chance to prove himself, buy Harper is more in touch with younger families, has the necessary business and community experience, and is just as good an all-around guy.

Plus he posts here on CP.

[Jimmy Stang]

Aside from some slimy tactics right on the eve of the election, I always regarded Sutherland as a decent second option. I just preferred Harper in a number of areas and thought he'd be a top choice in any race, but especially when replacing one of the old school guys in Hodges. It just goes to show that we all live in a bit of a demographic bubble of sorts. I have never met anyone that was wild about Hodges, but his endorsement was critical to Sutherland. It spoke to a different demographic, and it worked. My first thought was "an endorsement from Hodges? Good luck with that, but people are looking forward to the post-Hodges era." But it worked, obviously.

Harper has suggested in the media that he won't run again, which is a shame, but I can understand why. But the people have spoken, and Ward is our guy now, so hopefully he can represent us well.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I have never met anyone that was wild about Hodges,

I met Hodges once and asked him point blank that if I didn't get a raise of 5% every year, how can I afford a property tax increase of that magnitude. He game me the same politician run around about how they have to weight different options and such. Not impressed with him at all.

[MarchHare]

I met Hodges once and asked him point blank that if I didn't get a raise of 5% every year, how can I afford a property tax increase of that magnitude.

That just shows a poor understanding of economics/finances on your part. You didn't lose an extra 5% of your income because your property tax bill went up by 5%.

Hypothetical example: let's suppose you make $50,000 per year and you pay $1000 in property taxes. The next year, you get a 2% salary increase and your property tax is increased by 5%. You're now making $51,000 per year and paying $1050 in property taxes, leaving you net ahead by $950 compared to the previous year.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Harper has suggested in the media that he won't run again, which is a shame, but I can understand why. But the people have spoken, and Ward is our guy now, so hopefully he can represent us well.

I know Chris personally and it's really too bad about him not winning. He is passionate like no one else about the community. But as John Mar said, democracy is not always as pretty as you want it.

I want him to run again, and in the meantime grow his profile - this city needs guys like him - he represents the upcoming generation of Calgarians, both latte-sippers and YOP-gobblers. He's actually quite the good balance between both

Three years since the last election seemed like just yesterday. Four years will come quickly.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Hypothetical example: let's suppose you make $50,000 per year and you pay $1000 in property taxes. The next year, you get a 2% salary increase and your property tax is increased by 5%. You're now making $51,000 per year and paying $1050 in property taxes, leaving you net ahead by $950 compared to the previous year.

That depends on your definition of "afford". In you example, I can "afford" another $950 of property tax increase. Can't agree with you but I digress.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I know Chris personally and it's really too bad about him not winning. He is passionate like no one else about the community. But as John Mar said, democracy is not always as pretty as you want it.

I want him to run again, and in the meantime grow his profile - this city needs guys like him - he represents the upcoming generation of Calgarians, both latte-sippers and YOP-gobblers. He's actually quite the good balance between both

Three years since the last election seemed like just yesterday. Four years will come quickly.

How do you go about doing that? Say I want to run in 2017. How do you grow your profile and get some name recognition in the 4 years leading up to that election?

[surferguy]

Vic is not a Dic graffiti and signs everywhere! Maybe even free tattoos?