By Pepper Parr
September 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The election for the ward 4 city council seat took on a bit of a different twist when Dan Davidson announced that he was going to withdraw from the race and support Carol Gottlob.
Alexandra Kubrik has said she too would be withdrawing from the race. Several months ago John Sweeney also said he would not leave his name on the ballot and has since withdrawn. Steve Kempf is not expected to remain on the ballot.
Carol Gottlob, English as a Second Language teacher, first time candidate for public office.
That makes ward 4 a two man race (sorry about that Ms Gottlob) with a long term incumbent who knows everything there is to know about how city hall runs. Jack Dennison can certainly get things done.
The issue for many is Dennison’s inability to differentiate between his personal interest and his responsibility to serve as both a steward and a protector of the rules, procedures and bylaws of the city of which he is a council member. During the four years I have observed Jack Dennison I’ve come to the conclusion that he sees the two as much the same.
In his withdrawal statement Dan Davidson said: I would like to make an important announcement in the race for the Ward 4 Burlington City Councillor position. I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for Ward 4 because I have been unable to transition from my current role and responsibilities on a major Government of Canada assignment.
Over the last number of weeks it has become very clear to me that my platform and that of Carol’s are almost identical. I put my full support behind Carol Gottlob in her candidacy for Ward 4.
I feel that it is critical that the people of Ward 4 have a change in leadership that will take them in the direction that community residents would like to go. Someone who deeply listens to residents, who will preserve our communities, who will enhance our recreation, and who will develop Burlington in an evolutionary manner for the years to come.
I believe that Carol has this vision, and is an excellent alternative to the incumbent.
Carol Gottlob’ s challenge now is to take that endorsement along with the support she currently has and build it quickly, very quickly and get her name out in front of people. Her campaign needs a lot of organization but first time candidates have come up the inside before.
It is too early to tell if Gottlob is a real campaigner. She presents well, come across as very decent, likable and prepared to listen and represent the interest of her community. At least now she doesn’t have to fight for votes that three other people wanted.
Jack Dennison, ward 4 Councillor for more than 20 years.
Dennison has his supporters – it would be stretching things a bit to talk of them as a solid core. The 2010 election was no cake walk for Dennison. If the Roseland Community Organization quietly asks its members to support Gottlob she will take everything south of New Street; Dennison certainly isn’t going to take that part of town.
The real challenge for Gottlob is the stretches of the city between New and Prospect and then between Mainway and Upper Middle Road.
The people south of New Street know what the issue is – those north of New Street are not impacted by the application to sever his Lakeshore Road property to the Committee of Adjustment and, having failed at that level, appealed their decision to the OMB.
It is unfortunate that the OMB hearing on the Committee of Adjustment appeal is not going to be heard before the election. After more than one adjournment the OMB hearing is now scheduled for some time in December.
Ms. Gottlob knocked on my door recently so she’s out campaigning. She might have been a bit late to do so, however. Name recognition means so much in these elections, the incumbent has a huge advantage. She registered some time ago and should have been out campaigning back then.
Still, this incumbent may have already lost enough goodwill in the Ward to make him vulnerable to an anybody-but-Jack movement.