By Pepper Parr
October 1, 0214
BURLINGTON, ON.
Perception is often more relevant than reality – and that would appear to apply to the campaign Blair Lancaster is running in ward six where the Air Park issue is front and center for many.
How many people are going to see this sign? Is it more of a political statement than a device to inform electors?
Residents north of Dundas have for some time felt that Ms Lancaster is closer to representing the interest of the air park owners than she is the interests of the residents who have to live with the air park.
During the ward six debate the Gazette sponsored, Ms Lancaster did say that the development of the air park was important and that the interests of the people who owned the air park mattered as well. She took the position that she was in office to represent everyone – which is certainly not the way many of the people in rural Burlington saw her behaviour.
Vince Rossi in the red shirt with Blair Lancaster to his left at a community meeting in the Warren barn on Bell School Line.
When a community meeting took place in the barn of the Warren family property, which is one field away from the end of the air park runway, Ms Lancaster sat beside Vince Rossi, the owner of the Air Park. Ms Lancaster explained at the time that she had been in a minor car accident earlier in the day and needed a chair with a back – and the only one available was next to Vince Rossi. Several people suggested Ms Lancaster could have moved the chair she was sitting in.
During the court case at Superior Court in Burlington Ms Lancaster sat in the row directly behind Vince Rossi which many saw as quite inappropriate.
When that hearing ended Ms Lancaster was seen leaving the Court house with Mr. Rossi as they walked towards their cars in the parking lot.
The Lancaster election signs are all around the air park site and on the air park site. Are small craft pilots funding the Lancaster election campaign?
For many people this perception is so totally wrong – to their eyes they see Ms Lancaster as being in the Rossi camp and they can’t wait to see her election financial return to learn how much Rossi donated to her campaign.
The last straw for many was the Lancaster election signs spread around the air park. “What in heaven’s name is she doing” was the comment from a political operative, who does not live in Burlington and is not aligned with any Burlington candidates. “Pretty dumb thing to do” he added “unless Lancaster has data that indicates most of the people south of Dundas don’t care all that much about what happens at the air park.
If you have a small plane at the air park – you are going to know that Lancaster wants your vote.
The city itself certainly cares and has committed a significant amount of dollars and staff time – first trying to get Vince Rossi to comply with the city bylaws and then ensuring that he provides all the information the city believes it needs to approve any changes to the air park site that are not related to aviation and the operation of an air park.
The biggest problem has been getting a site plan from the air park. The city also wants to see something in the way of a business plan which many believe does not even exist
So far the city hasn’t gotten much from Vince Rossi. Ms Lancaster has gotten a place to put her re-election signs.
Somebody obviously placed this sign there on her behalf. Frig, the person who took the picture probably did it to make a story.
When are we going to do away with these election offensive signs? They are an eyesore and terrible for our environment, both in manufacturing and disposal. Electronic voting, electronic campaigning.
Blair Lancaster, by her comments at the all candidates meeting, suggested the city hire an aviation consultant to solve the airpark problems.
An aviation consultant knows nothing about the problems created by the airpark, which have absolutely nothing to do with aviation.
A clever, devious move however in an attempt to get the city to pay for a consultant which the owner should hire at his expense – if one will ever be required at all.
A great article. Thank you.