Ottawa Municipal Election 2010

[lrt's friend]

I am awaiting a credible candidate for mayor who will have a fresh vision for the future and a demonstrated ability to do the job. I will be very reluctant to vote for anybody who has been associated with last three years of municipal government, which I have considered to be totally dysfunctional. If a suitable candidate does not come forward, I will probably spoil my ballot.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I am awaiting a credible candidate for mayor who will have a fresh vision for the future and a demonstrated ability to do the job. I will be very reluctant to vote for anybody who has been associated with last three years of municipal government, which I have considered to be totally dysfunctional. If a suitable candidate does not come forward, I will probably destroy my ballot.

So long as you don't not-vote. I have no respect for people who complain about their government, then do not take the time to vote. Spoiling a ballot, on the other hand, can make a statement.

[reidjr]

I have issues with people who don't vote yet feel they have just as much right to complain.I asm sorry but if you don't vote you have no right to complain.

[Dado]

You're not referring to lrt's friend, I hope, and his contemplating spoiling his ballot? Even though it's technically "not voting" a person who spoils a ballot has still taken the effort to go to the polls and cast a ballot, and their act shows up in the turnout statistics, unlike someone who doesn't vote at all. I think someone who spoils a ballot has every right in the world to complain; indeed, the very act of spoiling a ballot could be regarded as a pretty serious complaint against a perceived lack of choices.

[reidjr]

While i don't think people who spoil there votes in some cases may not care that much but atleast there putting in an effort and yes they have a right to complain.But people that don't go to vote and more or less feel there have the same right to complain those are the ones i have issues with.

[waterloowarrior]

Watson is going to make an annoucement on whether he'll run tomorrow morning
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Watson+expected+announce+mayoral/2429532/story.html

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Watson is going to make an annoucement on whether he'll run tomorrow morning
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Watson+expected+announce+mayoral/2429532/story.html

Well, I heard on the radio this morning. It's official; Jim Watson will run for Mayor.

[Kitchissippi]

I am completely unimpressed with Watson. I can't recall anything significant he did when he was the mayor of the old City of Ottawa from 1997 to 2000. He did little prepare it for amalgamation, and quit even job a few months before the fact. I find his ideas very vague and never presents a defined vision. His stand on the LRT issue was very lukewarm.

[RTWAP]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I am completely unimpressed with Watson. I can't recall anything significant he did when he was the mayor of the old City of Ottawa from 1997 to 2000. He did little prepare it for amalgamation, and quit even job a few months before the fact. I find his ideas very vague and never presents a defined vision. His stand on the LRT issue was very lukewarm.

Yah. He's a nice guy. Very personable. But he seems to be all soft skills and no substance.

[AuxTown]

I would take Watson over O'Brien in an instant. He seems to have a genuine interest in the city and wants to see big things happen while preserving the integrity and history of Ottawa. He may not have done much during his last term, but if his campaign revolves around cleaning house and bringing in a new group of progressive thinkers then he has my vote. I guess I will have to wait and see who else decides to run.

If nobody decent runs in Centretown then I may be forced to run myself. For a neighbourhood full of such young and vibrant people and places our representation has been whatever the opposite of young and vibrant is. I guess it's only the old cranks (and myself) that actually get out and vote .

[waterloowarrior]

Chiarelli to announce intentions next week
By SUSAN SHERRING, CITY HALL BUREAU
Last Updated: 12th January 2010, 9:46pm
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/01/12/12441446.html

Will he or won’t he?

Former mayor Bob Chiarelli says he’ll announce his political intentions before the end of next week.

But Chiarelli — who lost the mayor’s race to Larry O’Brien in 2006 and has been encouraged to make a comeback — says his options have grown.

They include not running for anything, running for mayor, or running for the Liberal nomination in Ottawa West-Nepean (which mayoral candidate Jim Watson will soon vacate).

“I may say I’m not prepared to announce my intentions until later like Mayor (Larry) O’Brien has done,” he told the Sun Tuesday night.

He said he still needs to consider his options.

“I’m going to be talking to my family,” he said.

So why would Chiarelli be interested in a return to politics, having been the MPP for Ottawa West, regional chairman, mayor of Ottawa, and now keeping busy as a consultant.

“Why are you interested in reporting on me?” he answered.

Watson’s announcement Tuesday that he’s running for mayor was “very much expected,” Chiarelli said.

“He’s a very formidable candidate. He’s certainly leading the pack, but it’s a long 10 months,” Chiarelli said. “He brings a lot to the table.”

Mike Patton, a former communications assistant to O’Brien, who ran under the Tory banner in Ottawa West-Nepean in the last provincial election and was defeated by Watson, is expected to once again seek the Conservative nomination.

Gordon Skinner quietly entered the mayoral race this week. Coun. Alex Cullen and Robert Gauthier have also filed nomination papers.

Alexander Aronec has signed up to run for the council seat in West Carleton-March. Coun. Eli El-Chantiry currently represents the ward.

[email protected]

[waterloowarrior]

Jim Watson is officially in

Diane Holmes will be running

Gord Hunter won't seek re-election

[lrt's friend]

Mayor doesn't want to run again but family urges him to do so

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/columnists/susan_sherring/2010/02/02/12715751.html

This article was followed by a dissing match on CFRA between the Mayor and Sue Sherring in separate interviews. In the end, the mayor agreed that what was published is accurate.

[danny the dog]

I was checking out the elections website and saw the first candidate for Kitchissippi ward has registered. I've lived here for quite a while and it's the first time I hear of Katherine Hobbs, anyone else heard of her before?

[Dado]

She would appear to be a freelance writer with an interest in fictional crime writing, at least as a hobby anyway:

http://www.capitalcrimewriters.com/members/memberprofiles/KatherineHobbs.html

http://www.bloodywords2009.com/newsRoom/steeringCommittee/chair.html

[TransitZilla]

Larry did himself no favours in this CFRA interview: http://www.cfra.com/chum_audio/OBrien_Sherring_Feb03.mp3. He sounds terribly immature.

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Larry did himself no favours in this CFRA interview: http://www.cfra.com/chum_audio/OBrien_Sherring_Feb03.mp3. He sounds terribly immature.

Here's the Sue Sherring article...
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/columnists/susan_sherring/2010/02/02/12715751.html

While not saying whether he would run again, O’Brien said it’s his hope that “eight or nine” of the sitting councillors aren’t back next term, and he added that anyone who has been around council for “10, 15, 20 years” should be gone.

That group, according to O’Brien, includes Capital Coun. Clive Doucet, but he suggested he would miss Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes if she isn’t back.

As for Bay Coun. Alex Cullen, O’Brien said he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the mayor’s race. However, O’Brien praised Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume, who’s considering his political future.

He didn’t have many kind words for mayoral candidate Jim Watson, whom he described as a “bland” mayor who did nothing visionary or exciting during his reign. O’Brien said he’d rather be an exciting one-term mayor than a bland two-term mayor.

The followup is even better

It ain't you

Seems Mayor Larry O'Brien is doing some damage control this morning.

On Tuesday, O'Brien told the Sun there were eight or nine city councillors he hoped wouldn't be returned to office.

This moring, O'Brien sent out an email to Orleans Coun. Bob Monette, Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry,

Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett, Stittsville Coun. Shad Qadri and Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson assuring them they weren't the ones he meant.

"This article was in no way aimed at you," O'Brien wrote, even being kind enough to include my column in his email.

"You are not one of the "eight or nine" I mentioned as people who should not come back."

No word on whether that means he hoped the rest of council are back or not!

[gjhall]

That leaves 14... Who is on the O'Brien hit list? And who will survivre Survivor: Laurier Avenue...

Georges Bedard
Michel Bellemare
Glenn Brooks
Rick Chiarelli
Alex Cullen
Diane Deans
Steve Desroches
Clive Doucet
Peggy Feltmate
Jan Harder
Gord Hunter
Christine Leadman
Jacques Legendre
Maria McRae
Doug Thompson

[Dado]

Poor Jasmine.

"Someone. Shoot me. Now. Please."

[Ottawan]

If anyone here's ever thought of running, or knows someone who has, you (or they) should check out this website. It's an organization dedicated to leveling the playing field in the upcoming election by helping to give newcomers a better chance against incumbents.

http://fairchance2010.ca/index.html