By Pepper Parr
October 22nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The last minute rush to get to that very last voter will end today
Voters need a chance to think about the choice they make and to give thought to where the city is going to go during a time when there isn’t all that much that is certain.
The 2022 election has certainly been different; there were no third party advertisers gumming up the works.
There weren’t any robo-calls that we are aware of.
There was a thirst for change in 2018 and that is what the city got: 5five brand new Council members and a new mayor.
Many voters are sitting back and asking themselves: How did that work out for us ?
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan
Perhaps two, in the opinion of the Gazette, haven’t work out all that well (Rory Nisan ward 3 and Angelo Bentivegna ward 6); a third finds that he is not going to be able to fully represent his constituents if he is re-elected. Kelvin Galbraith was advised that this would be the case by the Integrity Commissioner last March.
Galbraith had a responsibility to advise his constituents last March that this was the case. The public didn’t become aware of the situation until ward 1 activist Tom Muir managed to get the document from Galbraith who had a much different interpretation that most people of just what the Integrity Commissioner had to say.
The Mayor basically didn’t campaign. She relied on photo ops and two public appearances where there could have and should have been s full-scale debate.
Former Councillor Rick Craven wrote a scathing opinion piece that the Gazette republished.
The people in ward 4 have a tough decision to make: do they understand and accept the decision their Councillor Shawna Stolte made to release what was confidential information public.
She was docked five days pay for what she did.
The Gazette thinks Stolte did the right thing; we further believe that the report from the Closed Session Investigators made it very clear that Burlington had to clean up its practices and be more forthcoming with information when the come out of a Closed Session of Council.
In our ten years of covering Burlington City Council we have never seen as many Closed Sessions before. Admittedly, there have never been as many contentious development applications being submitted either.
During the budget there was next to nothing debated about the decision to buy the Bateman High School site; the words “forthcoming budgets’ didn’t get much in the way of attention.
From our point of view the best thing for the city is a Council that has Robert Radway winning in ward 1; Lisa Kearns winning in ward 2; Jennifer Houndslow winning in ward 3; Shawna Stole holding her seat in ward 4, Paul Sharman holding his seat in ward 5 and Rick Greenspoon winning in ward 6.
Sharman and Kearns are certain – the others are in the hands of the voter.
Marianne Meed Ward is certain – we expect with a smaller plurality.
Expect Gary Carr to be returned as Regional Chair which is a shame. Carr has served the people well since 2000, but it is time for a younger, fresher proven voice to lead. Andrea Grebenc would be an excellent choice.
Related news media
What the Integrity Commissioner had to say to Galbraith
Stolte and her Integrity issues.
What Craven told the public about Meed Ward
Looks like MMW far from loosing support (as predicted by the Gazette) has an overwhelming mandate from 80% of those who voted ! BTW Marsden only 3% (447 votes) LOL
Councilor Kearns 76% of those who voted. Ms Eeyore, cry me a river! Demoe only 217 votes.
Source:- Hamilton Spectator.
Turnout though was extremely low and most disappointing.
So, only a “younger, fresher voice” for regional chair, but not for Ward 5? Cute. Also telling that you still back Sharman when he’s in hot water for breaking privacy laws & breaching the city’s code of conduct when he accessed an email not pertaining to him and shared a citizen’s private information. That’s not including his last campaign being bolstered by mostly developer dollars. But that’s cool with you. But Carr has to go?
Pepper Parr aren’t you about the same age as Gary Carr…
Editor’s note: Your point being?
It is the hope that should Councillor Kearns retains her seat on council that she realize that she serves ALL residents in ward 2, not just the ones that think the sun rises and sets on her.
Her immature behaviour of blocking residents and not returning emails is inexcusable. Perhaps it is time to look into what can be done to make certain she fulfills her job as ward 2 councillor?