A lot of people don't realise that Eisenberger is a Conservative. I'm not sure how engaged he is provincially and federally, however.

I don't think party affiliation/alignment means a whole lot municipally.

Who is running to replace McHattie in Ward 1?

Currently, Jason Allen, Ira Rosen and Sandy Shaw although apparently Aidan Johnson is weighing a bid.

Ward 2 has two candidates registered thus far, both female: Lynda Hykin and Ivana Nosic.

Ward 3 has six candidates registered thus far, all male: Ralph Agostino, Bob Assadourian, Mark Dimillo, Matthew Green, Victor Rosettani and Tim Simmons.

Wards 4-15 are presently holding at one registered candidate per.

I'm surprised farr hasn't registered I assumed he would defend his seat. Anyone know if he plans on running?

I don't have any inside information on it but I can't see why not. He's done very well over the last 4 years and I don't see why he wouldn't be re-elected. If I lived in Ward 2, I'd definitely give him my vote.

Has Sam Merulla registered in Ward 4? I don't recall seeing if he did or didn't.

I don't see any contenders in the ward 1 field yet, but I'm sure they'll be pouring in. In any case is there any doubt whoever it is will be a progressive?

I would expect Farr to roll over anyone in ward 2. He hasn't taken a bad step this term, so I expect the ones that were considering it, Matt Jelly or Gelense, will consider going one ward east or west instead.

I just hope to stars Tim Simmons doesn't win ward 3. If there's anyone who would just plop into Morelli's footsteps and accomplish nothing for the next 15 years, it's him.

Jelly has mentioned he will be making an announcement this week. I could see him running in ward 1.

Well, Eienberger told me to my face that he was running, and then he went around and worked the room at the waterfront Williams Coffee Pub with enthusiasm.

Back in the day...

Down to Wire for Mayor's Chair
(Hamilton Spectator, Nov 4, 2003)

The Red Hill Expressway and city finances dominated one of the municipal election campaign's last all-candidates meetings last night -- fuelling some of the more personal barbs of the campaign.

Former MPP Dave Christopherson, criticized by other candidates about his NDP background, rhymed off a list of his accomplishments during 23 years in politics.

"While I was a cabinet minister, I was responsible for a budget of $1.2 billion a year and 15,000 employees. The city of Hamilton has a budget of $1 billion and about 8,500 employees," Christopherson told the audience of about 300.

"I realize that my friend Mr. Di Ianni likes to take that down but I tell you, he'd give his political right arm to be able to list that kind of experience going into an election like this."

Di Ianni, who is backed by business and has frequently referred to the "baggage" he says Christopherson carries as a New Democrat, did not comment directly. But the debate was viewed by the seven men running as a chance to point up opponents' weaknesses as the end of the race nears.

Michael Peters, a financial controller, said a city with such serious fiscal problems doesn't need a mayor with the type of "cap-in-hand" mentality that Christopherson displays.

Tom Murray, a former councillor, took Di Ianni apart as a member of a council that Murray says has done nothing in the last three years but raise taxes, allow services to deteriorate and react in panic to crisis after crisis.

Deamalgamation candidate Dick Wildeman said council members like Di Ianni abandoned responsibility to residents of the suburban areas which became part of Hamilton: "They want their towns and councils back ... a binding referendum and restoration of their democracy."

Wildeman also warned of the rising cost of servicing the city's debt, which stands now at $453 and is expected to peak at $678 million by 2007. It costs $59 million a year to pay debt charges.

But it was debate on the Red Hill Expressway that reflected the community's greatest difference of opinion, and one of its hottest election issues.

Hamilton police yesterday ordered protesters occupying land near Greenhill Road to pack up and move out.

Superintendent Ken Leendertse informed the group -- which has occupied the site since August -- that they must leave. He gave them time to dismantle their sacred fire and clear away their belongings.

They're to be out by week's end.

One non-native protester vowed the group will have to be "arrested and dragged away" from the valley.

Di Ianni says his No. 1 priority is getting the $220-million roadway built, supported by Peters, Murray and many candidates for city council. They say the road has been studied for years, and needs to be built for economic reasons, as well as to relieve local roadways.

Matt Jelly, a 21-year-old who says he is running "not to win," but to speak out, took repeated jabs at Di Ianni and other Red Hill supporters, saying that "there are no conceivable benefits to tearing down 44,000 trees. The public has never been asked what it thinks."

Michael Baldasaro, a pro-marijuana activist and environmentalist, said building an expressway through the valley will trap pollutants and harm health.

Christopherson said the proper thing to focus on for Hamilton's future is not the new roadway but a thriving economy.

Candidates pro and con agree that many voters will make up their minds Nov. 10 based on where candidates stand on Red Hill -- potentially turning the election into a Red Hill referendum

A chamber of commerce poll suggests support for the expressway is strong enough in the community to boost Di Ianni's chances, but only if enough expressway backers get out to vote. Released last week, it showed that 59.3 per cent of Hamiltonians surveyed support the roadway, with 20.8 per cent opposed, 13.8 per cent undecided and 6.3 per cent indifferent.



Enter Jellyman
(View Weekly, Terry Ott, Oct 30 2003)

"Made in Canada by robots." That was the header of an e-mail I received from mayoralty candidate Matt Jelly Mat Jelee (a.k.a. MDA), when I recently attempted to question him about his campaign. Of course. such a declaration would lead any inquiring mind to ask,"Hey, what the hell is he talking about?" According to the man himself, it appears that anything he says should be an "interpret them as you so choose" affair. Jellys candidacy is surely an exercise in grassroots vote-with-yer-feet democracy and is extremely malleable as a result. But the candidate cool with that. "I'm not here to win an election; I'm here to learn as much as I can," he claims. And just for good measure, the candidate promises to "maximize the volume" of his noise after November 10, election day, which I guess could be interpreted in several ways, although Mat assures us that "there is no threat" in anything he may do or say, and all will be legal and "non-violent." Don't think, however, that his blood is incapable of boiling. Just last week, Jelly was perturbed at the treatment he says he received at a recent all candidates debate. In a long missive to various media outlets including VIEW, Jelly bemoans the state of democracy in Canada and called the all candidates meeting he attended "a sham." Jelly said that after he announced to the assembled that the meeting was a joke and walked out, he received a loud ovation. If Jelly's efforts translate into 1,000 votes on November 10, he should consider his candidacy to have been a success.

New mayoral candidate: Ejaz Butt, freshly uninstalled former head of the Ontario Taxi Workers Union.

Also, Ward 9 now has two candidates, both female: Marie Robbins and Kathy Wakeman.

Matt Jelly tweets: I've decided to run for Mayor. Looking forward to a great debate about the future of our great city. #YHMpoli

well that's just a silly idea Matt. It's cute when you're 21; now he'll just be the other Baldasaro.

Hmmmm it does seem a little curious. Would McHattie and Eisenberger not have similar platforms to Jelly?

Not too sure why he decided to run again. I spoke to him about after the last mayoral run that he tried and he was pretty positive that he wasn't going to try that again. I guess something changed though. The progressive vote is definitely getting split here.

WHat about mayor mcCa

I believe he is not running this campaign to win, but to get ideas and issues on the table for discussion. I don't think this is a brash move, although I am surprised he didn't use his political capital to run for a ward seat again which he would definitely have a chance at winning.

This tells me that he does not wish to hold office any time soon; he is not satisfied in just being on the side lines and he wishes to be a part of the discussion in a formal way. Maybe even have some control over a few of the talking points which interest him politically. Steer the whole process a little. I don't think it's fair to say that he is playing at being the forever candidate that Baldasaro is. He is more involved in the current events and issues of the lower city. His political network is deeper and stronger. I think this move is calculated and must come with some deep consideration.

I don't expect a traditional campaign. He knows he is splitting the vote but maybe he will use this position to influence the left of centre candidates in particular issues. Maybe he will eventually throw his support to another candidate in order to mitigate vote splitting.

Any way let's see how it plays out.

If Candidate A and Candidate B both run a funded campaign with the same platform, then ultimately either candidate drops out, throwing support to the other, it is a pretty crafty way of circumventing individual donor limits if Special Interest Donor C gives to both campaigns. That would put a whole new spin on buying an election.

I am just thinking out loud here, I am not suggesting this is actually going to be done during any campaign.

I think this may have been an April Fool's Joke that got out a day early: http://jellyandgunner.ca/an-in-the-n...-announcement/

Edit: He may still be running, but that's a joke campaign, I guess, but I'm not believing it until he files his paperwork.

It was an April fools joke...

Ferguson won’t run for Hamilton mayor
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Apr 7 2014)

Lloyd Ferguson won't jump into the crowded Hamilton mayoral race.

The Ancaster councillor officially squashed long-running rumours about his candidacy for the city's top job Monday, but did vow to seek re-election in Ward 12.

"I agonized over it," said Ferguson, adding the decision didn't get any easier after incumbent Bob Bratina announced he wouldn't run again.

"But the vast majority of people I've spoken to in the ward want me to stay where I am."

Ferguson said he's motivated to "finish the job" in Ancaster, pointing to the potential to purchase Memorial school and finish critical infrastructure projects such as the Wilson Street rebuild and long-sought Highway 403 westbound ramp.

The veteran councillor said an altercation with independent journalist Joey Coleman in late February played "absolutely no role" in his decision to skip a run at the mayor's chair.

Read it in full here.