2022 London Election

[haljackey]

Starting a thread for this. Election is on October 24, 2022.

The results of the provincial election in June may have an impact on platforms/issues discussed during the local campaigns.

By 2023 the makeup of our local and provincial governments could look very different. Conversely, it could also be pretty similar to what we have now. Up to us to decide.

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What are the main issues going to be? I am thinking

BRT / transit. Will the current projects continue as planned? Would be very costly to cancel at this point. Will the routes defeated by the last council be approved? Any other changes to the plan at large?

Wonderland Widening. Project was canned due to environmental concerns but I am sure a lot of politicians will campaign on this to win votes. Drivers caught in congestion along this key route may vote for candidates in favor of expansion.

Property taxes. Classic campaign issue. Do we want to increase spending, stay as-is or cut?

Environment. Cycle lanes? Beautification? Climate emergency? What is London going to do?

Downtown. Dundas construction + pandemic have really, really hurt this area's growth and reputation. The homeless / druggie problem is much worse than it was around the 2018 election. Do we keep trying to pump money in the core to keep it alive or on life support, or do we start to pull the plug on some programs?

Housing. We need much more supply but we can't keep sprawling out with suburbs. Lots of local opposition to high rise projects means we have trouble infilling / building up. Population growth is probably going to continue even as the prices go up. No easy solutions.

I'm sure there are other major topics that I have left out and others that will creep up leading up to and during the campaign.

Will Holder try running for mayor again? What about Paul Cheng?

[Djeffery]

I don't count out Paul Paolatto making another run. He is running for the PC in London West in the provincial election, and I think he has next to no chance of knocking off Peggy Sattler.

Might also see a couple current councillors throw their hat in that ring, but I think they might wait to see what Ed does. Josh Morgan and Jesse Helmer are natural mayor candidates of the current crop, to me anyway. Mo Salih would have had wide support had he stayed in London. I hope Virginia Ridley attempt a comeback and knocks off that slimy Paul Van Meerbergen. Anna Hopkins is my councillor and anytime I watch council online, she sounds drunk, would love to see a viable opponent for her.

Wonder if we will see any of the old guard try to make comebacks. Bill Armstrong finally stopped suing Shawn Lewis, but I don't count him out from trying again. Maybe if his wife loses her seat provincially, she might run. Bud Polhill should have taken the last time around as a hint, but he loved being on council and might try once more, even though he's about 80 years old now. Of course, what fun would an election be if Steven Orser didn't run lol.

[MolsonExport]

oh god not these idiot turkeys again

[haljackey]

Well with the latest census data- how London manages its growth is going to be a major election issue.

The 2030 master plans that were approved was based on population projections made in the 2010s. We're now growing at roughly double those figures. We may need a complete rewrite of the plans soon, or expedite, enhance and/or expand the number of projects to keep up.

This election may be one of London's most important ever... easily the most important in the 21st century for sure. We're not a small town anymore. The sooner we realize that and decide what kind of city we want to become, the better.

[inimrepus]

I'm going to guess at least 4 major candidates for council will make getting rid of those master plans part of their campaign.

[ssiguy]

I think there will be 3 main issues: BRT, affordable housing, and the drug and resulting vacancy problem in the core.

With the new population numbers showing London growing MUCH faster than forecast even 5years ago, I think you will find the BRT debate flare up again with a real sense of urgency. I think you will find more support city-wide for BRT and far less opposition because most of the opposition to the project {and certainly the loudest} was from Richmond Row merchants. Any new plans for a new west/Oxford and Western/Masonville lines will now not include Richmond but most certainly Wharncliff which is actually the street I thought it should have been in the first place.

Where is Jane Bigelow when you need her?

[Djeffery]

I thought that it should have gone up Wharncliffe from Riverside originally, but I think they will still be focused on Richmond, tracks be damned. If they had focused on Western Rd, they could have been involved in making the new CPR bridge wider, and would never have had to cowtow to the university about road and bridge work on campus. But given all the work already done north of Oxford, I don't think they will look that way this time either. Plus I'm assuming Richmond needs this underground infrastructure work done that BRT is paying for on the other routes.

[CanadianTalk]

Mayor Ed Holder announced today that he will not be seeking reelection in October.

Edit: The LFP article mentions that it is likely that the current Deputy Mayor (and Ward 7 councillor) Josh Morgan will run for Mayor.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ek-re-election

[CanadianTalk]

Also, the following incumbent councillors have already filed their papers and are running in the next election: Shawn Lewis (Ward 2), Steve Lehman (Ward 8), Anna Hopkins (Ward 9), Elizabeth Peloza (Ward 12), John Fyfe-Millar (Ward 13, replaced Kayabaga), and Steve Hillier (Ward 14).

These incumbent councillors have already confirmed to LFP that they are intending on seeking reelection, but have not officially filed their papers yet: Michael van Holst (Ward 1), Mariam Hamou (Ward 6, replaced Squire), Paul Van Meerbergen (Ward 10) and as I mentioned in my post above, Josh Morgan (Ward 7)

Jesse Helmer (Ward 4) and Mo Salih (Ward 3) have already announced that they won’t seek re-election.

Maureen Cassidy (Ward 5) and Stephen Turner (Ward 11) have not announced their plans yet.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ol-board-races

[Djeffery]

I think Jesse Helmer throws his hat in the mayor's race after his wife loses in the provincial election next week. I also expect Paul Paolatto to run again after he loses next week as well.

Miriam Hamou did apparently file her papers this afternoon, per Craig Needles.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Not to be too critical, but I don't think Holder was a good mayor for London. He bragged of all his connections, but that didn't get the city too much while he was in office.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Not to be too critical, but I don't think Holder was a good mayor for London. He bragged of all his connections, but that didn't get the city too much while he was in office.

True, but at least he kinda half-supported BRT (I call that a win) and had a scandal-free term. I don't think he handled the pandemic badly either.

Paul Cheng must be getting excited if he wants to run again?

Would Tanya Park try again? Helmer said he won't run for council again right? So perhaps mayor instead?

Guess we shall see what unfolds as city politics becomes more topical once the provincial election is over.

[Djeffery]

I asked Craig Needles some time back about Park and I'm pretty sure he said she doesn't live here anymore. I can't imagine she took any kind of signal from 4th place last time as a sign to run again, especially given how out of the public eye she has been. I'm sure Tanya wasn't too pleased that she stepped aside from running for her seat in 2018 to seek a provincial nomination, didn't get one, but in the meantime, committed to Arielle Kayabaga that she wouldn't jump back in the council race, only to have Arielle jump to federal not even a full term later. No doubt Tanya would have had several council terms in her.

[CanadianTalk]

Josh Morgan has filed his papers and is officially running for mayor.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...-fall-election

[Djeffery]

Not a shock, but glad to see. Will be interesting to see who else from the current council has the stones to take him on. I would love to see Hopkins, Van Holst, and Van Meerbeergen run, just so they would be gone altogether lol. Maybe Mattress Brown makes a comeback "Hey Maureen, love what you did with your hair, give me a call" lol.

[CanadianTalk]

Election update:

Stephen Turner (Ward 11) announced today that he is not seeking reelection.
https://london.ctvnews.ca/turner-not...d-11-1.5959701

Just a reminder that Holder (Mayor), Salih (Ward 3), and Helmer (Ward 4) have already announced they are not seeking re-election. Morgan (Ward 7) is running for Mayor, so that leaves another open ward seat.

Cassidy (Ward 5) has not announced her plans yet.

Van Holst (Ward 1) said he plans to seek re-election, but he is also now considering running for mayor.
https://globalnews.ca/news/8911574/l...an-holst-post/

Van Meerbergen (Ward 10) already announced that he plans to seek reelection, but has not filed his papers yet.

All other councillors have already filed their nomination papers and are seeking reelection.

[haljackey]

Just waiting for this guy to enter the ring now

[MolsonExport]

I don't like van meerkat.
Remember when his crony got charged for being a low life?

Candidate and Van Meerbergen volunteer charged by OPP in election smear campaign

He's almost as bad as Stephen Orser (remember that loudmouthed tub of goo?)

[MolsonExport]

Helmer seems like a very progressive guy. I would vote for him.

[MolsonExport]

i hope that the grinch doesn't try for a comeback. I was very TIREd of this guy.


https://lfpress.com/2015/02/23/lonco...or-bud-polhill