By Pepper Parr
April 23, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
By Pepper Parr
April 23, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
An incumbent council member that we thought would be acclaimed will face a competitor for the ward 2 seat. Kelly Arnott has advised us that she intends to announce her candidacy at the eatalia restaurant on Brant Street on April 28th. We have been invited.
Incumbent ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward has changed the way things got done at city council and while many were uncomfortable with her style the sense was that her strong ward association gave her a lock on the ward. Now there will be a ballot with at least two names on it.
There are people in this city – and on this council, that would love to see someone other than Meed Ward sitting beside ward 1 councillor Rick Craven – especially the member for ward 1.
Arnott is the organizer of the immensely successful but controversial Half Chilli Marathon that takes place the first Sunday in March.
Some people who live along lakeshore Road take exception to the closing of the road. The lead up to the 2014 race saw some of the longest and most drawn out delegations to city council over the road closure. City council voted to continue with the race.
- Kelly Arnott’s entrance into the civic election and her decision to contest the ward 2 seat will draw a very clean line between two opposing views as to the kind of city the people of Burlington want.
Kelly , I don’t know you or what you stand for so I will listen with interest as you lay out your platform . From my standpoint Marianne has done a tremendous job as a Councillor in Ward 2 . I live downtown but also for the last 8 years have sat as a Councillor in the Municipality of Whitestone which is near Parry Sound where I also own a home. I agree with 90 percent of Marianne’s positions on issues. I only wish the rest of council was as strong, responsive and tuned in as Marianne is. Believe me if I I had enough reasons to run against her I would but I realize the best I could do is tie so I say to her keep up the good work . Good luck to you but you face an uphill battle and I applaud you for at least making a it a race in Ward 2 . If Marianne decides before September 1st to run for Mayor I look forward to running against you. Cheers Joe Lamb.
I hope Meed-Ward runs for Mayor…as she would lose
I hope you, Mr. Lamb, run for Ward 2…as you too would lose
How effective of a councillor are you in Whitestone if you live in Burlington half the time which begs the question how effective of a councillor would you be for Burlington if you live in Whitestone half the time?
Other then helping screw up the Senior Centre, which I am a member of,what else have you done for Burlington? …nothing! At least Kelly has added to our city!
Over the years I have attended many meeting facilitated by Marianne Meed Ward which have been extremely well attended and she listens to and represents the issues that concern the people in attendance, who are her constituents. She is serving the constituents not others and that is why councillors should be elected and why I too will vote for Marianne again.
Marianne has been a minority voice on many issues of interest to ward residents. I will vote for her again. Diversity of opinion in legislative bodies is good for democracy. Rubber stamps, not so much.
Meed Ward is an angry public figure that loves to lead the Nimby groups around and scare away all the business in this city.
She is anti everything this city needs; just ask her friend Craven, great guy in comparison.
Councillor Meed-Ward has done quite well for ward 2, considering the lack of support from others on Council! She has pushed items that should have never been passed or approved (ie sale of waterfront property, the beach community)
Ward 2 deserves to give Councillor Meed-Ward another GO!
Maybe the other wards 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6 need some new young faces – just saying!
Kelly can’t even get the marathon right…good luck in council.
Editor’s note: Actually we think Arnott does the marathons rather well.