By Anne Marsden
October 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
When I read the advanced poll numbers on election night I knew every Burlington incumbent would be returned and I would not take second place in the Mayor’s race. Just like that the 17,000 minimum electorate support base I hoped and in many cases was assured was there, disappeared into thin air.
I immediately contacted my brother in Australia who was 12 hours ahead of us and following the results while having breakfast, to alert him these were not the results we had been expecting. Next came a call to my 14 year old grand-daughter who was more excited than me that Election Day was finally here. I told her there would be no ticker tape confetti event that evening.
Anne and Dave Marsden: the gave it all they had – the public support she once had didn’t appear this time
Dave and I went into this election with eyes fully opened that the discontent regarding issues Joe Gaeten has already well described in his Gazette encouragement article that we heard personally and through our “friends of democracy” would not necessarily mean any change in the current Burlington council.
However, neither of us expected the results we saw in that first advance poll which we knew, despite my brother’s encouragement otherwise; set the order of the final results.
Joe Gaeten’s advice is well taken. It is our hope that we can bring together all candidates who heard the unaddressed issues that resonated so loudly during the campaign. We can and will support working together to prioritize a list of family and business well-being issues and present them one at a time through the Procedure By-law petition process to ensure what we heard during the campaign does not remain unaddressed.
Marsden is not going to go quietly into the night. She wants the city to celebrate its 150 anniversary in 2023 – the Public Library did that earlier this year . Picture is of the first public library in Burlington.
This city belongs to those who live, work and play here. Twenty-twenty-three is our 150th anniversary, a very special year that we hope will see the change we expected to see at the Council table emanate from the hard work of the last six months for those who care enough about the families and businesses of this city to carry on the battle from outside the council table.
“Work for the well-being of the city to which I have sent you.” Jeremiah 29:7 remains the Marsden mandate and will until we take our dying breathe.
Anne Marsden has been a candidate for both the office of Mayor and for the Regional Chair, In the past she pulled in some remarkable numbers but this year a shift in public sentiment and shameful low turnout worked against her. Don’t expect Marsden to drop out of sight.
Other than complaining, please advise on what you’ve done or accomplished.
Mary Barr.
Could you list some of her great achievements while Mayor of Burlington for the uninformed?
I know Marianne Mead Ward is the best mayor we could have and results showed it.