Quote:
Originally Posted by BLACK STAR
^I like most of his articles.
How's he a dufus? Common sense wise? Or wearing Black socks with sandals wise?
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I can't recall much about him. Where is he on supporting projects like redevlopemnt of airport lands and the Downtown? Has he been progressive in the past?
Web searches reveal at least this much from the articles below:
"...McKeen talked about Edmonton being a low tax city, which has resulted in a loss of some programming. He also mentioned that 95% of taxes go to the federal and provincial governments. Noting that he isn't a socialist..." and "Inevitably the discussion turned to the downtown arena in Edmonton. Mr. McKeen said he struggles with picking a side. He likes the idea for a new arena and the potential for growth in the downtown area, but isn't too sure who should pay for it.". Sounds slippery to me.
http://intervivos.ca/home/36-blog/79...-tax-mas-recap
and this sweet assessment by Scott McKeen on Council in 2010 (selected ones that I extracted)
"Karen Leibovici is hard-working, smart and details-oriented, especially in regards to city spending. Not lacking in self-confidence, even Mayor Stephen Mandel, a close ally, can't sway her. Needs to work, though, on inspiring civic administration and rallying people to a cause, especially if she runs for mayor in 2010, as expected."
"Linda Sloan is more politically active in this, her second term, as seen in recent efforts to ban plastic bags in city. Enigmatic at times in her politics and manner, it was Sloan who inspired the normally businesslike Bryan Anderson to lose it this term and tell her to "shut up." She and Mandel can't be in the same room without feuding."
"Kim Krushell's energy level and enthusiasm are unparalleled. But it's possible she takes on too much in the way of extracurricular issues. Some of her community endeavors steal time away from the job she was elected to do, govern the city. Still, very effective, especially on transportation issues."
"Ed Gibbons is your journeyman politician. Workmanlike and committed, especially to issues in his ward. Not a great orator. And if Hayter is prickly, Gibbons is a cactus grove. Much of his political work is done off-site, with municipal organizations and the military."
"Tony Caterina is council's style leader. His dapper-gentleman fashion hides a overly competitive nature. Caterina looks at times uninterested in issues outside his ward. But if it's in his ward, look out. His no-holds-barred style, however, will lose him political currency, if it keeps up. Then there's his thing for flogging dead horses -- reopen the City Centre Airport? -- that looks, at best, naive."
"Ben Henderson was not the type to sit back and quietly defer to veterans on council these first few months. Needs to sharpen his rhetoric -- brevity, they say, is the soul of wit -- and listening skills. Strong knowledge of planning issues. Potential to be a top-drawer city councillor."
"Bryan Anderson is the quintessential constituency p"olitician. He's a hard worker who returns citizen phone calls himself. Gets teased by other councillors for wanting to find middle ground, instead of choosing sides. But he is pragmatic, as well as a solid mediator and problem solver."
"Don Iveson hasn't taken city hall by storm, as some expected. But credit Iveson for a willingness to listen, learn and speak when something needs to be said. At a recent public hearing he wisely pointed out council's folly in debating a moot point. His was the coolest head in the room."
"Amarjeet Sohi at times shows he's a rookie councillor. Some city hall insiders grumble about him asking uninformed questions in meetings. But geez, it's only his first year. And he's also truly one of the nicest people in politics."
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...717b19edcd&p=2