Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Aegis

I'm really not impressed with how Higgin's campaign has torn a page from the Sarah Palin campaign manual.

It's obvious that her handlers are not confirming her appearance at forums in which she might be asked difficult and potentially embarassing questions on topics she knows nothing about (the economy).

It appears her most important strategy is to say as little as possible.

Barb has a pretty full event schedule and is participating in a forum tonight:

October 6, 2010 - FORUM CBC
5:00pm CBC Forum Southcentre Mall

October 7, 2010 - Children's Cottage Radiothon
11:30 am Children's Cottage Radiothon

October 8, 2010 - OPEN HOUSE - McKenzie Towne Community Hall
5:00pm @ McKenzie Towne Community Hall

October 9, 2010 - OPEN HOUSE - Inglewood Community Hall
9:30am @ Inglewood Community Hall

October 10, 2010 - FORUM - Calgary Public Library
Noon - 3:00pm @ John Dutton Theatre, Central Library, 616 Macleod Trail, SE

October 15, 2010 - OPEN HOUSE - North Glenmore Park Community Hall
OPEN HOUSE 5:00pm @ North Glenmore Park Community Hall

October 16, 2010 - Calgary French & International School
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, October 16 @ 1:00-3:00pm

October 17, 2010 - Triwood Community Centre Open House
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, October 17 @ 2:30-4:00pm

http://barbhiggins.ca/events.html

I think one of the things is that I learned by doing the Kepner-Tregoe analysis, is that even some of the candidates who I don't officially support can have some of the better ideas on a subject.

Even though some of these candidates have been virtually written off by voters, I still think they add value to the overall discussion. An inclusionary debate would allow even those that are unlikely winners to participate their ideas and concerns in a democratic process. Some of their attacks are even more effective considering it is not from a leading contenders.

Barb Higgins has also released her policy book recently:
http://barbhiggins.ca/assets/files/Barb-Higgins-Policy-Book.pdf

I don't agree with her on every issue, but the things I think are most important I agree with her the most.

Of specific note, she has pointed out in her policy book an alternative to the airport tunnel. It includes future North LRT later down the road, future people mover connection, and several roads to improve access.

[Bigtime]

Wow, just got back from Winnipeg and very happy to see the momentum continuning to grow for Nenshi!

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Wow, just got back from Winnipeg and very happy to see the momentum continuning to grow for Nenshi!

It's a tidal wave baby. Grab a board and ride it!

[Bigtime]

I did get some puzzled looks from my "Nenshi for Mayor" pin on my jacket in the Peg.

[nick.flood]

calgarysun.com has a poll up

The latest poll shows Ric McIver and Barb Higgins at a virtual tie. Who would you vote for?
- McIver
- Higgins
- Neither

I'll be voting neither in this stupid poll.

[suburb]

Originally Posted by nick.flood

calgarysun.com has a poll up

The latest poll shows Ric McIver and Barb Higgins at a virtual tie. Who would you vote for?
- McIver
- Higgins
- Neither

I'll be voting neither in this stupid poll.

Looks like the 'Neithers' are way ahead with McIver and Higgins tied at a mere 28%. Something over 1,600 respondents at this point.

[freeweed]

Whatever happened to the supposed dirt on McIver that was going to come out?

[MalcolmTucker]

To my knowledge there is no dirt, beyond the tired PGIB stuff. Now if Burrows were at 30 % on the other hand...

[fusili]

Originally Posted by suburb

Looks like the 'Neithers' are way ahead with McIver and Higgins tied at a mere 28%. Something over 1,600 respondents at this point.

Looks like the Nenshi online army is keeping the Neither category at a solid 44%. If the Sun publishes this poll, it will look a lot like people are very undecided.

[Aegis]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

To my knowledge there is no dirt, beyond the tired PGIB stuff. Now if Burrows were at 30 % on the other hand...

Has Craig Chandler endorsed McIvor?

[suburb]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Barb has a pretty full event schedule and is participating in a forum tonight

That's a good idea Barb, but here is a better one:

Better Idea: Calgary will be a city where every neighbourhood is a safe neighbourhood

Naheed will be a mayor who ensures that the safety of Calgarians remains a top priority of City Council. Naheed will help the police continue to provide effective emergency services and will work with community partners to implement proactive measures to reduce crime. That’s how this Better Idea will lead to a Better Calgary.

The highlights of the plan are described below and a more detailed backgrounder document is also available in PDF format.

Highlights of Naheed’s Plan

1. Work with the leadership in the Police Department to increase community policing.
* Maintain the number of front-line police officers.
* Re-allocate resources where possible to focus on community policing.
* Focus on communities that are under-reporting crimes.
2. Expand community partnerships to address the root causes of crime.
3. Make crime prevention a priority for other city departments.
4. Develop effective provincial and federal partnerships.
* Build relationships with other levels of government.
* Work together on the causes of crime.
5. Build safer communities.
* Encourage mixed use developments.
* Invest in the urban fabric.
* Support effective design and placement of public spaces.

Read the full policy backgrounder

Download the full-text backgrounder of this Better Idea in PDF:

Better Idea #11 – Calgary will be a city where every neighbourhood is a safe neighbourhood

[Bigtime]

Just got a call on our landline from Ipsos Reid, survey about the election. They asked a couple of questions about my priorities for the city and then asked if I had to choose right now would I vote for McIver, Nenshi, or Higgins.

Guess who I picked?

They also asked how certain my choice was (absolutely certain) and if I would be voting on the 18th (yes).

[Aegis]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Just got a call on our landline from Ipsos Reid, survey about the election. They asked a couple of questions about my priorities for the city and then asked if I had to choose right now would I vote for McIver, Nenshi, or Higgins.

Guess who I picked?

They also asked how certain my choice was (absolutely certain) and if I would be voting on the 18th (yes).

Interesting.. they only gave you the top 3 candidates as choices?

[srperrycgy]

I went to the CBC forum at SouthCentre this evening. There weren't any knockouts by any means, but it was interesting. Definitely a McIver crowd, though us Nenshi folks were in good attendance. I was on the second level watching and could barely hear Hawkesworth and Lord speak. Oscar wasn't there, thank god. I think he might have been booed off the stage if he was there. I overcame my political shyness and went over to Naheed to introduce myself after the forum was over.

So if Bigtime got a Ipsos call, there should be new poll results out by the end of the week.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Aegis

Interesting.. they only gave you the top 3 candidates as choices?

When all the rest are within the MoE of zero, you can reasonably assume that they aren't moving anywhere, why waste time naming all the candidates? Especially when undecideds have dropped so much in other's polls. Will produce a good headline when it is released that is for sure.

It is fun as a political person to watch from afar - I am really not sure what I would recommend doing with money in the bank and a close to 0% campaign. Current aldermen are going to garner less votes than Jeremy Zhao did last time around. Attack on front runners just knocks vote loose for the other front running candidates to pick up. Releasing policy won't get you coverage unless it is crazy or a very slow news day/your one hit of the campaign.

After thinking about it, if I was Stewart I would go with this message:

McIver is going to win, send him a message to protect the 10 year plan to end homelessness by voting for me.

It might cause a bit of a bump in a poll, a toehold to build from, but it is too late. Might have worked if he started a month ago. For Hawkesworth he has already bombed the bridge between his previous narrative and his future one, so his existing strategy might be ok if he can get people to believe that it is a zero sum game and the runway tunnel will destroy all other chances for their favorite infrastructure.

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

So if Bigtime got a Ipsos call, there should be new poll results out by the end of the week.

Indeedy, depending if it is a commissioned poll for a paper/tv station or an Ipsos ad project. If the later, I would guess on Monday (who likes to work a PR machine on the weekend!), the former it might make it for Friday, but I wouldn't count on it.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Just got a call on our landline from Ipsos Reid, survey about the election. They asked a couple of questions about my priorities for the city and then asked if I had to choose right now would I vote for McIver, Nenshi, or Higgins.

Guess who I picked?

They also asked how certain my choice was (absolutely certain) and if I would be voting on the 18th (yes).

I got the same call last night... Strangely worded questions if you ask me.

[srperrycgy]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

For Hawkesworth he has already bombed the bridge between his previous narrative and his future one, so his existing strategy might be ok if he can get people to believe that it is a zero sum game and the runway tunnel will destroy all other chances for their favorite infrastructure.

He used that narrative tonight.

[Blader]

I thought I was old, 64 years, but, I felt young. I held the door for 6 people on the way in. Most were in their mid 80's, hearing aids, canes, and very slow walkers. 2 out of 30 were younger than me. Perhaps it was it medical appointments that drew the elderly crowd to the advance poll? In my case, I will be leaving for Europe on Monday.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ If campaigns have any identified vote, and volunteers available getting voters out to advance polls, especially voters that need assistance helps take the load off on election day. Even better is the fact that once they vote, they can't change their mind!

[Radley77]

Am 'lovin' this clip of Mr. Fech tryin' to explain some Illuminati-like conspiracy belief here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7pnhW4-lR8#t=1m43s
WTF!