Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[suburb]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

I really think everyone else should've held off and let Barb have her day. I think it's a matter of respect to do that. If I had been Nenshi's campaign manager; I'd have released it tomorrow.

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

^^I hardly think it's going to cause Nenshi's campaign to come crashing down. It's not like he held a press conference at the same time, it's was an email/twitter/facebook release.

Oh come on Jeff, it was Barb's day and we should respect that. We really shouldn't be posting on this forum till tomorrow - shame on you. Wait, I just posted. I feel so ashamed!

[halifaxboyns]

I was reading Naheed's transit better idea platform.

I think he's got some good ideas, but what he doesn't seem to realize in his campaign (with general transit improvements) is that you can't just get the buses and trains right away - it takes time to build them. But I think he's got some good ideas and that small flaw doesn't deminish his overall concept.

Certainly the customer focus is interesting - I don't know how that would work (I would hope not anywhere near the catastrophy that the TTC has).

I certainly enjoy the fact he wants to get the ticket machines to issue change; if that was his one platform - he got my vote lol.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

Calling herself a fiscal conservative isn't an indicator of anything. Most of the candidates have self-applied that description, even the communistical radical Naheed Nenshi.

Naheed should start announcing himself by that moniker! It's catchy.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

I watched the Barb Higgins presser, and she really is going to be a game changer in this election. Not to be condescending, but people who aren't issues based voters, who are a lot of them, are going to shift to her, most likely from Dr. No.

In regards to this type of voter, I'm hoping that she plays her 'newcomer' and 'fresh-start' angle well. If she does I think she will be able to capture that voter that is angry at City Hall and wants change but would vote for McIver simply because he says he is that change. Her entrance into this race could very well prove to be beneficial for the likes of Nenshi.

[jeffwhit]

^^I wonder if her praise today of council and Bronconnier specifically is going to come up again. Everyone else (even people who've been sitting on council for a number of years,) seems to be generally on the attack.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

^^I wonder if her praise today of council and Bronconnier specifically is going to come up again. Everyone else (even people who've been sitting on council for a number of years,) seems to be generally on the attack.

If I was running against her, I would bring that up.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

But I will say this - Barb's entering the race...that is a game changer. I'm looking forward to see them all react to this. McIver may just be in for a real fight now and I will enjoy watching it.

You're most likely right and I'm not questioning where this is going. However...

This really demonstrates how much of a farce modern voting is. Issues? Platforms? Track record? Integrity?

Who cares! I know her face from TV!!

It's sickening how elections have turned into voting for high school class president, but with actual ramifications.

[gantenbein]

Originally Posted by freeweed

This really demonstrates how much of a farce modern voting is. Issues? Platforms? Track record? Integrity?

Who cares! I know her face from TV!!

It's sickening how elections have turned into voting for high school class president, but with actual ramifications.

Can't disagree with that. The only thing that mitigates the damage, ironically, is the fact that voter turnout in municipal elections is so low. While this is depressing in itself, at least I comfort myself with the hope that most of the people who think in such shallow terms as you describe are the ones staying home.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by freeweed

You're most likely right and I'm not questioning where this is going. However...

This really demonstrates how much of a farce modern voting is. Issues? Platforms? Track record? Integrity?

Who cares! I know her face from TV!!

It's sickening how elections have turned into voting for high school class president, but with actual ramifications.

Reminds me a little bit of the last municipal election. They want to give you a ballot for the School Board Trustee. Since I had no idea of any of the candidates' platforms, I refused the ballot, since they only way I could vote was to flip a coin or see which name looked the most catchy. None of the candidates had done any kind of advertising of their platforms, how was I to know the difference. Sure, I could probably have looked the information up on a website, but really, how am I going to know which platform that is almost the same to vote for. I don't know any of the people more than any random stranger. Voting for anyone would be against the spirit of having a vote in the first place.

[mr.steevo]

Hi,

I don't see a blog / press release being disrespectful to Barb. If a media event was called the same day same time then that would be something all together different.

s.

[mr.steevo]

Originally Posted by freeweed

It's sickening how elections have turned into voting for high school class president, but with actual ramifications.

Hi,

I don't think it has become that way.

It's always been that way.

s.

[Wooster]

New Calgarypuck poll with Higgins.

Should we start a new one here yet? I suspect not much as changed thus far...

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=93805

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by mr.steevo

Hi,

I don't think it has become that way.

It's always been that way.

s.

Touche.

I think it's gotten much worse though. When Reagan ran in the US, at least at first there was outright derision. It wasn't "hey, he was in movies, so he's the new front runner!". These days the second anyone recognizable throws their hat in the ring, the media falls all over itself to declare them a serious contender.

Honestly, Higgins quit her job and within HOURS people were talking about how she'd be in the top 2. She hadn't declared she was running and even today no one has a clue about what she stands for, but somehow she's right up there?

Then again, I still think Shatner would have made an awesome GG, so I'm part of a problem.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Then again, I still think Shatner would have made an awesome GG, so I'm part of a problem.

It's different when the position is a figurehead.

[gantenbein]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

It's different when the position is a figurehead.

Yes and no -- I'm sure a monolingual (over-)actor who's spent the last four decades in the States could surely do a lot of harm, even symbolically.

[srperrycgy]

Jon Lord thinks I work for a mayoral campaign. What a fricking joke! I'm just tweeting cheeky tweets!

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Wooster

New Calgarypuck poll with Higgins.

Should we start a new one here yet? I suspect not much as changed thus far...

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=93805

I am in for a new poll. My vote won't change but I would like to see if things do change.

Be careful though, some forumers may claim that redoing the poll shows that we have admitted defeat and acknowledge that we are all morons.

[bob1954]

Do a new poll!!

[suburb]

http://www.nenshi.ca/new/2010/153

Idea: Political campaigns should be about the best ideas, not the most money
Posted: Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 3:41 PM

Time for tough new rules on campaign finance

Nenshi challenges McIver and Hawkesworth to come clean

Calgary, AB: In 2001, campaigning in Calgary changed. Elections went from moderately expensive to million dollar professional enterprises. But as much as the elections have changed, the rules governing them have stubbornly remained nearly the same. The perceived abuse reached an apex in the 2007 election, when record amounts were spent, and one alderman decided at the last minute not to run, leaving with an undisclosed amount of money raised.

Despite promises from Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Alderman Ric McIver, Alderman Bob Hawkesworth, and others to fix the mess after the 2007 election, nothing was done. Council struck a committee which, setting a record even for Council committee uselessness, never actually met. Finally, the province had to step in, substituting its own weak regulation in the absence of any city action.

Now, with Mayor Bronconnier stepping down, Aldermen McIver and Hawkesworth are both taking money they have raised for their aldermanic races and applying it to their new races. They are taking donors’ money intended for one use and allocating it to a new use without donor approval, something no charity could ever do.

Today, Naheed Nenshi proposed tough new rules to govern campaign finance, including more stringent donation limits, spending limits, disclosure of donor names during campaigns, and time limits on fundraising.

Nenshi further pledged to voluntarily abide by these rules during the campaign, and challenged all his competitors to do so as well.

“Today, I pledge to limit my spending to 65 cents per resident, to disclose the names of all my donors during the campaign, and to donate any surplus to charity, win or lose,” said Nenshi. “These are simple steps, and they may hurt my campaign, but this is a small price to pay to restore faith and trust in the system. I challenge all the others running for mayor or alderman in this election to do the same.”

[93JC]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

While I'm all for everyone having their own campaigns and platforms; I really think everyone else should've held off and let Barb have her day. I think it's a matter of respect to do that. If I had been Nenshi's campaign manager; I'd have released it tomorrow.

If I was Nenshi's campaign manager I would have released it on another day for the simple fact it was completely overshadowed by Barb Higgins' press conference.

Needless to say she's got a good chance of winning.