2014 Mayoral Election

[thistleclub]

McHattie first to register for mayoral race
(Hamilton Mountain News, Kevin Werner, Dec 31 2013)

Hamilton councillor Brian McHattie will be the first mayoral candidate out of the gate when he registers at city hall Jan. 2 for the 2014 municipal election.

The Ward 1 councillor is expected to be surrounded by family members and supporters when he officially puts his name down on what is expected to be a crowded mayoral field. The municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2014.

This will be the second time McHattie has run for mayor. Back in 1997 he launched a challenge against long-time incumbent mayor Bob Morrow, placing fourth after receiving 5.4 per cent of the vote. Morrow continued on as mayor until Ancaster mayor Bob Wade upset his goal of becoming the first mayor of the new amalgamated city in 2000.

In the 2003 municipal election, McHattie upset incumbent Ward 1 councillor Marvin Caplan, capturing 57 per cent of the vote. Over the next two municipal elections, he has boosted his vote percentage from 62 per cent in 2006 to 64 per cent in 2010.

McHattie over the years has become well-known around the council table fighting for environmental issues, pushing for sustainable development, curtailing urban boundary expansion, and supporting alternative modes of transportation, including light-rail transit. McHattie was born in Weston, Ont., and moved to Hamilton in 1987.

He worked for Environment Canada, the Hamilton Conservation Authority and was working towards a PhD when he won political office in 2003.

Potential candidates for municipal office need to register before they can officially receive campaign donations under the Ontario Municipal Elections Act.
McHattie is also scheduled to officially kick off his mayoral campaign later in January.

Mayor Bob Bratina is expected to seek re-election, although he has given no hint as to when that will happen. Bratina will be issuing his State of the City address Jan. 8 at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast meeting in the StelcoTower in downtown Hamilton.

[thistleclub]

McHattie makes 2014 mayoral run official
(Hamilton Spectator, Jan 2 2014)

It's already a race for mayor in Hamilton just halfway through the first day of registrations for the 2014 municipal election.

Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie made official his long-expected run at the mayor's chair Tuesday morning, promising to be a more activist and co-operative mayor than incumbent Bob Bratina.

McHattie suggested the current mayor has alienated council colleagues and been largely sidelined as a result.

"It needs to be a much more collaborative approach," he said. "It's not really clear to us at council what he's doing at Queen's Park or in Ottawa."

McHattie said he'll consult citywide with residents before releasing a formal platform, but he highlighted jobs, air quality and transparency at city hall as areas in need of improvement.

Bratina is expected to run again but wouldn't confirm that plan Tuesday.

He argued his relationship with councillors, most of whom voted to censure him in 2012, has been good when it mattered.

"I had support for issues that I championed, that were close to me," he said, pointing to all-day GO transit and the controversial Pan Am stadium compromise location.

The day's second mayoral race registrant dismissed both council veterans out of hand.

"They're the same-old same-old," said Michael Baldasaro, himself an election fixture in Hamilton.

Would-be councillor Matthew Green lined up at City Hall before 8 a.m. on Thursday, to get a head-start on the long march to voting day.

To be fair, it's been a long wait already.

"I've been thinking about it since Grade 4," said the grinning Ward 3 candidate, the first to register for the Oct. 27 municipal election.

The 33-year-old community organizer was followed quickly Ward 1 candidate Jason Allen.

The 41-year-old Metrolinx employee was the first to throw his hat in the ring to replace incumbent McHattie.

[thistleclub]

Fred Eisenberger: On Running for Mayor
(The Hamiltonian, Jan 3 2014)

Clr. McHattie recently registered as a mayoral candidate and is apparently beginning a consultative process to finalize his platform. Although Mayor Bratina has not formally registered, he is expected to. Some speculate that if you do run, it may split the vote which will bolster the chances of the incumbent, if he does run. Does this give you any cause for pause? You had previously indicated that you would also be running. Is your resolve still the same?

Thank you for the question Diane. I will reiterate my previous comment to you... ”Now more than ever, our city needs strong leadership, clear vision and a well developed plan, along with the ability to collaborate effectively, build positive relationships with all of our institutions, organizations and other levels of government to build pride and confidence in our community and its people. I have been encouraged many, many times over the past few years to give the important position of Mayor of the city of Hamilton serious consideration , and I am. My focus has always been to build a clean, green and prosperous city that will once again embrace innovation, ambition and compassion to the benefit of all the diverse people that make up our city. I am consulting broadly on all of this throughout the community. I thank all of those that are sending my notes of encouragement and I look forward to my final decision in the coming ,months. I will be sure to keep all of the media posted......”. Let me add the following:

“My consultations in the broader community the past year or more has gone very, very well and has been very informative. . I have learned much from my time as Mayor and as the Chief Executive officer and President of the Canadian Urban Institute ( an organization dedicated towards building sustainable, liveable cities in Canada and throughout the world) and from the many citizens and leaders I have conferred with over the past 4 years. I look forward to filing the nomination papers in the near future and then let the voters decide who has the best experience, passion and ability to lead our city forward.”

I wish the Hamiltonian and all of your viewers and subscribers a healthy and prosperous 2014.

Cheers

Fred Eisenberger

[thistleclub]

Building off of a post of about a year ago, some rudimentary but revealing visualizations.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm sure DiIanni will come back and they will all split the votes. That guy can't seem to quit and I'm sure he couldn't stand the thought of Eisenberger coasting to victory.

[thistleclub]

Eisenberger says he's still current enough to be mayor
(CBCHamilton, Samantha Craggs, Oct 4, 2013)

A former Hamilton mayor says he’s still current enough to run for the city’s top job in 2014.

Fred Eisenberger spent one term as mayor, but hasn’t been on council since 2010, when Bob Bratina was elected mayor.

Eisenberger went on to spend two years as CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute. But he says he’s kept abreast of municipal politics.

He announced his intention last week to seek election in fall 2014. Nominations open on Jan. 1.

Eisenberger talked to CBC Hamilton about campaign debt, joining Twitter and his former ally-turned-rival, mayoral hopeful Coun. Brian McHattie.

Next week, we'll post our interview with McHattie.

AUDIO

Highlights:

Why do you want to get back into municipal politics? (at 0:10 seconds)

“Obviously I’ve got some experience that I can call on to help serve the city of Hamilton. I’ve served it before and I’ve kind of assessed whether or not I have the fire and enthusiasm and energy to come back and do it again, and I believe I do.”

What problems do you think Hamilton has that you can solve? (0:53)

“We’ve got a revenue problem. We, over the decades, have lost a significant amount of industrial capacity and that’s caused an awful strain on our revenue stream from a commercial-industrial perspective, and put an awful strain on the residential tax base. We need to continue to push for new commercial-industrial tax base and new jobs in that area to sustain our city, and to put balance back into the tax regime.”

A criticism of you might be that you haven’t been in municipal politics for a couple of years. You’ve been out of the game. (4:30)

“You’re never really out of the game. You have political capital. And by virtue of being the mayor and on city council for many years, and chair of the Hamilton Port Authority, I’ve got experience and understanding of our city. You don’t spend four years as mayor and not know and get to know the city more than most people in our community. I have that knowledge.”

Is there anything Bob Bratina has done in the last couple of years that you would have done differently? (5:30)

“My approach to politics has always been that you need to have positive, good working relationships with council, with staff, with other levels of government. That needs to be priority No. 1 because to get things done effectively, you need to have that kind of working relationship. And then as well, a good, positive working relationship with the media. Not a cozy one, but certainly a respectful one that allows the mayor and council to get their message out to the general public.”

Brian McHattie has also announced that he plans to run. Are you worried about splitting the vote? (7:10)

“I think the pundits can analyze that. My experience has been that the first order of business for anyone that wants to be a candidate is do you want to do it? Do you have the energy and fire in your belly to see it through? Is there something you want to bring to the table, an issue you want to raise that you think is important for the city? That’s really the only test I put before myself and the answer to all of those is yes.”

One of the more polarizing issues when you were mayor was the stadium debate. How do you think that might impact your campaign? (9:05)

“We’ll see. I think in hindsight, most people would probably agree that I was right about the stadium location. It’s an issue that’s done and gone at this point. The stadium is being built and so be it. The principles that I worked from were what’s in the best interest of the city.”

How much money do you hope to raise and where will you get it? (10:10)

“I have my supporters. We will start thinking about those issues shortly and start mapping out and planning how that’s going to work. I’m not too terribly concerned about that.”

Do you think you’ll be tweeting? (13:50)

I’m sure I’ll be tweeting and I’ll be reinvigorating my 5,000 Facebook friends. Social media will certainly be very high on getting the message out.

[ScreamingViking]

I think he would come back to the mayor's office with more potential and useful experience. His time with the urban institute may have provided him with some different perspectives and let him make some great connections with people in other cities and senior levels of government (which would be advantageous for high profile initiatives like LRT and with issues that involve the broader region).

Having spent 4 years away from the kids in the Main St. sandbox isn't a bad thing either... he may be able to re-establish relationships without as much baggage.

But the baggage of the stadium debate would still be heavy.

[coalminecanary]

How is the stadium an issue, it's already being built

[Jon Dalton]

I guess they just need to have issues. Even though there is no point arguing over it, Eisenberger lost the West Harbour stadium and Bratina settled for Ivor Wynne. The other candidates will have a field day.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

I guess they just need to have issues. Even though there is no point arguing over it, Eisenberger lost the West Harbour stadium and Bratina settled for Ivor Wynne. The other candidates will have a field day.

It wouldn't be an election without being able to point fingers over past issues.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

It wouldn't be an election without being able to point fingers over past issues.

The way the stadium was handled speaks volumes about both Eisenberger and Bratina. Similar principles involved in that discussion will appear in future issues. I know your point, and you're right that there will be a lot of quibbling over issues that have been put to bed- but how someone did or didn't go to bat for the best result for the city in the past, has a lot of bearing over whether he should be trusted to do so in the future.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

The way the stadium was handled speaks volumes about both Eisenberger and Bratina. Similar principles involved in that discussion will appear in future issues. I know your point, and you're right that there will be a lot of quibbling over issues that have been put to bed- but how someone did or didn't go to bat for the best result for the city in the past, has a lot of bearing over whether he should be trusted to do so in the future.

The stadium issue is one memory that will have a long lifespan. But it's ironic that the way Bratina handled that made him look like a leader able to bring resolution to a problem (albeit behind closed doors), whereas on other key files since then he's been the opposite.

I think LRT, the casino, and one-way streets will be the hottest topics. They probably polarize the central city vs. suburban areas the most.

[thistleclub]

Baldasaro runs to fix ‘broken system’
(Flamborough Review, Kevin Werner, Jan 11 2014)

Michael Baldasaro wants Hamilton politics to be about the people of the city, not just the residents who have money or influence.

That’s why Baldasaro, 65, registered to run for mayor Jan. 2. He quietly filled out his nomination forms as Ward 1 councillor Brian McHattie held a news conference on the ground floor of city hall.

“I wouldn’t be standing here if there wasn’t a need to for somebody to communicate with the real people, the ones who don’t have money, that don’t have influence,” said Baldasaro in an interview.

While he has made his name over the years by running for municipal, provincial and federal office championing marijuana legalization, he has made it a point to talk about the “ordinary” people who are ignored by politicians and see a system that has failed them.

“The city needs somebody from the people,” he said. “Same old suits.”

Pointing to McHattie during his news conference, Baldasaro says politicians are never around except during an election.

“I never see any of those guys,” he said.


Read it in full here.

[drpgq]

Why would Bratina mention he had support for all day GO? We didn't get all day GO. It's pointing out a failure.

[SteelTown]

^ No, it's run for Mayor or nothing.

[mattgrande]

I normally wouldn't post to someone's personal Facebook page, but that's how she requested people contact her. Unfortunately, she has two, and I'm not sure which is more "official."

https://www.facebook.com/crystal.lavigne.716
https://www.facebook.com/crystal.mahoneylavigne

[matt602]

She also "cleaned up" the personal one that she had before entering the mayoral race. She had some rather choice words regarding immigration and multiculturalism and some rather outspoken Ford Nation support on there. No thanks.

[thistleclub]

Councillor continues to mull mayoral bid
(Ancaster News, Kevin Werner, Jan 14 2014)

Lloyd Ferguson will be seeking re-election as Ancaster’s councillor.
But not if he decides to run for mayor, instead.

“I’m keeping my powder dry,” said Ferguson. “I’m listening to the community, listening to my constituents.”

But what a sizable number of people in Ancaster have been telling the businessman-turned-politician is to remain a councillor.

“I’m getting that (response),” acknowledged Ferguson. “I got it at Tim Hortons. Somebody said, ‘Stay where you are.’ The problem is when you run for mayor (and) lose, you’re out. But that is a calculated risk I will have to give consideration to.”

Ferguson said he expects to make a decision on his political future by the spring.

Residents will be able to talk to Ferguson about what he should do, and other issues, at his New Year’s levee scheduled to be held Jan. 19 from 1-4 p.m. at Ancaster’s Old Town Hall.


Read it in full here.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Councillor continues to mull mayoral bid
(Ancaster News, Kevin Werner, Jan 14 2014)

Lloyd Ferguson will be seeking re-election as Ancaster’s councillor.
But not if he decides to run for mayor, instead.

“I’m keeping my powder dry,” said Ferguson. “I’m listening to the community, listening to my constituents.”

But what a sizable number of people in Ancaster have been telling the businessman-turned-politician is to remain a councillor.

“I’m getting that (response),” acknowledged Ferguson. “I got it at Tim Hortons. Somebody said, ‘Stay where you are.’ The problem is when you run for mayor (and) lose, you’re out. But that is a calculated risk I will have to give consideration to.”

Ferguson said he expects to make a decision on his political future by the spring.

Residents will be able to talk to Ferguson about what he should do, and other issues, at his New Year’s levee scheduled to be held Jan. 19 from 1-4 p.m. at Ancaster’s Old Town Hall.


Read it in full here.

Lloyd Ferguson does this every time, my theory is he does it only to solidify his chances in his ward, as in 'I could be mayor if I wanted to, instead I'll continue to serve my ward'. Tom Jackson will say the same thing next. Ward politics is like minor league baseball, either you're just waiting to get called up to a provincial spot or you're happy to plod along doing the same thing, except in this case you stay around forever.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by matt602

She also "cleaned up" the personal one that she had before entering the mayoral race. She had some rather choice words regarding immigration and multiculturalism and some rather outspoken Ford Nation support on there. No thanks.

Wicked. Anyway, with a name like Crystal, it's little surprise. She no doubt spent her formative years in a trailer park somewhere.