2014 Mayoral Election

[Jon Dalton]

I'm not surprised about Brad Clark. He had to take a side and distance himself from McHattie and Eisenberger. This will get him votes.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

How often is the province (theoretically) willing to give us nearly a billion dollars? And Brad wants to say "no thanks, we're fine." Talk about short sighted.

I don't think Brad Clark is saying "no thanks" to the money: He is proposing we spend the money in a different way, i.e. instead of LRT on the B-Line, go with BRT and put the cost difference towards enhancing regular city-wide bus services as well. In doing so, he says we avoid the added infrastructure costs for reworking the underground services that presumably would be the city's to pay for should we go with LRT.

Remember, the province is not saying "LRT or nothing". The money being presented via The Big Move has always be carefully worded as for rapid transit costs, and has never mentioned LRT specifically.

[urban_planner]

This just bought a lot of votes for all the people who are un educated with regards to the benefits of LRT. I hope he looses. I am still leaning towards Mchattie even as a dreaded mountain resident.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by urban_planner

'...even as a dreaded mountain resident.'

Boooooooooo!

[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,

[SteelTown]

Pretty much sums up the main candidates view on LRT


http://mackaycartoons.net/

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by urban_planner

This just bought a lot of votes for all the people who are un educated with regards to the benefits of LRT. I hope he looses. I am still leaning towards Mchattie even as a dreaded mountain resident.

It's always a good idea to ensure you are grammatically correct when accusing a group of people as being "un educated" and hoping someone "looses" an upcoming election.

[durandy]

Eisenberger is killing himself on this platform. If he wants to capture the centre he'd be smarter to say yes LRT but only with 100% funding. This message is attractive to exactly nobody.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm disappointed with Fred's position. After 7 years it's ridiculous to study it any more. I hope he come out clearly in support of it because I'd like to consider voting for him,

[SteelTown]

Eisenberger leads in Hamilton mayoral poll



http://www.thespec.com/news-story/48...-mayoral-poll/

[interr0bangr]

If Clark wins I'll be super pissed.

Will strategically vote for Eisenberger if Clark gets too close for comfort and McHattie is totally out of the race.

[oldcoote]

That's depressing.

I said it before. McHattie needs to start swinging. Nice guys finish last.

[mattgrande]

That's a lot of undecided voters for the election being only a month away.

I watched the debate on Cable 14. It moved me from "begrudgingly holding my nose and voting McHattie" to just "voting McHattie."

[matt602]

Unfortunately I think a lot of those undecided's are gonna go for Clark since he's pushing the "do nothing, lower taxes" platform.

[bigguy1231]

The results don't surprise me. McHattie was dead in the water as soon as he admitted he had never used the RHVP because he had opposed it. As for Clark he just isn't palatable for alot of people, a little too rightwing and gruff. Eisenberger is the safe choice and the poll reflects that. Unless we see an anything but Eisenberger sentiment happening before election day it looks like our new mayor will be an old mayor.

[Jon Dalton]

How about if a lot of those undecideds are those who can't choose between Eisenberger and McHattie? Those two have a lot more in common and if it's between one of them and Clark, it's easier to decide that.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm pissed off at this election because I want to get behind someone but can't support Fred's half measures on LRT. The Ward 2 race is a snoozer and I'm fine with the obvious winner there. I'm more excited about wards and 3 and who will replace Clark in Stoney Creek.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Isn't Fred's 'half-measure' just an election strategy? Stupid strategy, if it is.

[Jon Dalton]

Yeah I don't get it. Listening to him debate it's clear he understands and is for it. So why not get it done? The election is basically a referendum on LRT anyway.

Besides all the progress on LRT was made under Fred's term as mayor. If people weren't properly informed or consulted, what did he do wrong?

[matt602]

I have a feeling that Fred pulled in his outspoken support for LRT as an election tactic. I think that if he did get elected, he'd go back to supporting it more openly. He was a very vocal supporter of it when he was mayor last and as already pointed out, a lot of the work was done while he was in office.

Although I was originally gonna throw my support behind McHattie, now that I see Fred starting to gain some serious traction, I'm considering throwing it his way instead. I honestly didn't even think he'd have a chance when he announced he was running. I thought it would be between McHattie and Clark for sure, since they're political polar opposites. Fred seems to be playing the middle pretty well.