2014 Mayoral Election

[bigguy1231]

She didn't resign and she won't resign anytime soon. The NDP doesn't get the knives out for the leader when they lose elections. They never have and won't likely ever do that. In the NDP the members decide not the backroom people. They have their bi annual convention coming up in the next little while and they always have a leadership affirmation vote which is basically just a show of hands. The NDP has always retained their leaders for the long term.

[markbarbera]

In 2007, then NDP leader Howard Hampton also blamed his disappointing third consecutive third-place finish on strategic voters who feared the PC's, and vowed that he was going nowhere. In 2008, Hampton resigned as leader of the NDP in his twelfth year as leader. Horwath now has two more consecutive third-place general election finishes to add to the NDP's record in her sixth year as leader, and vows to continue on. According to her, the NDP remains in the same position it has been in since 1995 because Ontario voters are still voting out of fear. Truth be told, it is the memory of prior NDP government that is just as much to be blamed. How about genuine reform within the party instead of blaming voters for your misfortunes?

[durandy]

Powers to bow out of municipal politics
Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, June 26 2014

Longtime Dundas Councillor Russ Powers will not run in the next municipal election.

Powers has served as a Dundas representative for 27 years at various local levels of government, but announced Thursday he will retire from municipal politics.

Not necessarily all politics, however.



more good news! Rob, Tom, Lloyd?

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Yeah, not to dance on his grave but it was time...it was time years ago.

[SteelTown]

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

It's fairly clear that Bratina's outlived his usefulness on the political scene. Maybe he should have a chat with DiIanni about what comes next.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

Hamilton Centre's nomination was closed uncontested with Anne Tennier claiming it as the sole standing nominee.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

Does this now mean Bratina throws his proverbial hat into the municipal ring? God I hope not.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Does this now mean Bratina throws his proverbial hat into the municipal ring? God I hope not.

There is opportunity to take advantage of a split vote between McHattie and Eisenberger, though with Clark running as well it complicates that.

If he were to run, an anti BLine-LRT stance (even just a "let's wait and see first" position) might win him some votes. I could also imagine him playing to the mountain voters that way, talking up alternative transit improvements in their wards instead of such a big investment in the lower city. But voters in Dundas, Ancaster, and especially Flamborough should be leery about anything he promises.

[interr0bangr]

There hasn't been any polling data yet has there?

[sil]

Its quite comical to see all the banter on this issue.... I can't believe people dont want funding from our government.... who turns away money... only hamilton does... It's sad really.. Im sure if the LRT was slated for from Stoney Creek all the way up the mountain to Ancaster it would be unanimous. but because its being suggested for the lower city its all hell no's. We need to get together as a City Stoney Creek, Binbrook, Ancaster, Mount Hope and start thinking like a city, The core of a Downtown is a positive. if allowed to grow we all win its not about "what" IAM getting but what we can all get out of it....

lets not make a mistake just because we think things should be built in our neighbourhood NIMBYism

Start thinking like a city not a suburb,

[mattgrande]

https://twitter.com/spaikin/status/501808599627485184

From Steve Paikin on twitter, ".#hamont mayor Bob Bratina will seek #lpc nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. NDP's Wayne Marston holds it now."

Not too surprised by the news.

[matt602]

Not at all surprising, and it will be a waste of his time. The NDP has an incredibly firm grip on East Hamilton.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Embarrassing.

Which riding can he try next after this debacle?

[durandy]

I agree, I don't expect Bratina will do better than Di Ianni did in 2008, but you never know.

[markbarbera]

While it is true the NDP have held Hamilton East since 2006, I don't think it can be considered a 'safe' riding for them. Prior to Wayne Marsden's current eight-year run, the riding was consistently Liberal from 1962-2006, an impressive 44-year run.

That Liberal dynasty was interrupted mainly by the Liberal Party's sagging fortunes during the Martin/Dion/Ignatieff leadership periods, aggravated by the infighting among what was then a very divided Liberal party (recall how Shiela Copps, then a solid Chretien supporter, was squeezed out of the HoC during the 2004 riding re-distributions by pro-Martin candidates Stan Keyes in Hamilton Centre and Tony Valeri in Hamilton East). Now that the Liberal Party is solidly united under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, and the Layton-led Orange wave of 2011 has washed away, this riding is definitely back in contention heading into the 2015 election.

[SteelTown]

Why didn't he just choose the new riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas riding? It's a new riding so no incumbent. Plus it's likely a good spot for the Liberals to pick up.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Why didn't he just choose the new riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas riding?

I believe Bratina is Serbian/Croatian, which is a significant east end, Stoney Creek demographic.

[ScreamingViking]

He'd probably get a rough ride from voters in Ancaster and Dundas, who will no doubt remember his promises to look at de-amalgamation.

[SteelTown]

.@bradformayor just announced he's against LRT, even if the province funds capital costs. Taxpayers can't afford it, he said #HamOnt #sl
by Samantha Craggs via twitter on 9/3/2014 at 9:36:40 AM