By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington got its first chance to see the three contenders for the office of Mayor last night when the Lion’s hosted a debate that got a little awkward at times but covered a lot of ground in a short period of time.
The evening was organized for the residents of ward two to get a look at those running for Regional chair, those running for the Mayor’s seat on Council and those running for the Council seat.
Regional chair Gary Carr at a Burlington event. Carr never misses a chance to put on a hockey sweater.
It is nigh unto impossible to beat Cary Garr who is the current Regional Chair. He has served as an MP, an MPP and as Regional chair where he has done a decent enough job. Carr trots out all the numbers and accomplishments and never fails to tell us that Halton is the safest Region not only in the province but in the country and that taxes have not increased in the last eight years.
Will Carr be able to say the same thing come March when we see the budget for the Region? And will Carr at some point explain where things went wrong with the water and sewage pipes in parts of Burlington?
Know this – Gary Carr is going to be re-elected as Regional Chair – and he has earned that job
The two contenders for the Regional chair face an uphill battle – getting name recognition throughout the Region is very difficult and expensive. Greg Woodruff spoke very well; he knew what he was talking about but wasn’t going to convince anyone that he should be Regional chair, when he shows up in a polo shirt looking as if he was heading for a shift at Wal-Mart.
This is a bright young man – there is a place for a mind like him at the city council table – but as he put it in a short conversation – Rick Craven can’t be beaten in Aldershot which is where Woodruff lives.
Sayed Ali Naqvi spoke very well and referred to a 24 point plan that is on his web site. It would be very difficult for someone with no experience at the municipal level to lead a Regional government. However Mr. Naqvi made some significant points that need a good look.
Peter Rusin candidate for Mayor
The public got its first look at Peter Rusin who was a very late entry into the race for the office of Mayor. He has his work cut out for him.
Rusin comes across as a very tough guy who gets things done but he needs to learn the art of politics. Rusin stood before the audience of less than 150 people for the first time and neglected to say who he was.
He does know how to hone in on a subject and scored points when he scoffed at the five units of affordable housing that will be part of the five structure Paradigm project the Molinaro’s are building next to the Burlington GO station. “Who negotiated that deal” he asked.
Rusin believes he can take $1 million out of the city hall budget while Mayor Goldring, who showed he knew how to fight back, told the audience that Service Based Budgeting would give the public more input into the budget making process. Goldring appears prepared to take credit for the introduction of Service Based Budgeting – an idea that came to Burlington with former city manager Jeff Fielding who left the city after less than 26 months of his 60 month contract.
Mayor Rick Goldring speaking to environmentalists – he chose to speak on a street corner instead of at civic square
Goldring talked of his success in protecting the integrity of neighbourhoods – check out what was done in the Queensway where eight homes were demolished and 50+ homes built. Significant increase in the population of what is an almost lost community – but nothing in the way of local amenities were added.
Rusin who frequently didn’t drill down far enough in his arguments to make his point – chose to cover a lot of ground lightly.
He had harsh words for the Pier mess and said the IKEA problem would not have happened on his watch. Rusin was promising more capable leadership – and for a short period of time there was a bit of a buzz in the room.
The third candidate for Mayor was Anne Marsden. Had Peter Rusin not filed nomination papers Ms Marsden would not be on the ballot; his being a candidate gave her the cover she needed to run.
Anne Marsden, candidate for Mayor
Ms Marsden is a tireless advocate for the disabled and a true champion for the democratic rights of the voters. She made a very strong necessary case for ensuring the public`s right to have input into the decisions made. The decision to hold a Special Meeting of Council on Monday was embarrassing and just plain wrong. Ms Marsden deserves credit for speaking out as forcefully as she did.
Senior Regional Planner Stirling Todd talks with Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward.
At the ward level Marianne Meed Ward did what she does very well; she engaged the people of her ward and they responded. The woman that delegated at council in 2009 and 2010 has grown and probably cannot be beaten.
Kelly Arnott was on point – but didn’t offer anything that Meed Ward hasn’t already done. Andy Porecki was a late entry into the race for the ward seat. He would have had to start campaigning a year ago to lay a glove on Meed Ward. He does bring credible experience at the Regional level to municipal politics. He was probably the best informed person on affordable housing in the room – after Gary Carr.
Philip Papadopoulos has added $100 to the city’s coffers when he paid his nomination fee and that is about the limit of his contribution.
What Burlington is seeing is ward based events; a group in a ward sponsors an event and cover everything. Last night it was the Lions sponsoring a ward two event, next Wednesday the Roseland Community Organization will sponsor a debate for residents of ward four. The Gazette recently sponsored a debate for the residents of ward six.
The city needs a debate between just the candidates for the office of Mayor.
The Roseland Community Organization is sponsoring a debate at the Paletta Mansion on October 7th. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a debate on October 17 at the Golf and Country Club. This is a 7:30 am event.
Dear Mr. Parr: Thank you for covering the event.
I agree that it could be difficult for “someone with no experience at the municipal level to lead a Regional government” as you say but surely you are not talking about me as you might have done your research before making such a statement.
As mentioned on my website http://www.votesyednaqvi.ca I am probably the only candidate who has done AMCTO (Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, & Treasurers of Ontario) Municipal Management and Municipal Law Program courses which are required not for lay politicans but the actual people who deliver the goods and manage and write by-laws. I have been on many municipal committees e.g. Committee of Adjustments and Corrections Township of Guelph Eramosa for many years. I have also been:
-Township of Guelph-Eramosa, Economic Development Committee, Member
-City of Ottawa Health and Social Services Advisory Committee
-City of Ottawa Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee
-Canadian College of Health Service Executives (CCHSE), Member & Certified Health Executive
-American College of Health Executives (ACHE), former Member
-Society of Adjudicators of Ontario (SOAR), former Member
-Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Member/Steward
-Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE)
I am a Federal Government National Defence Manager and have worked as Manager for the Ontario Government. If I cannot manage, then allow ,me to say, no one can!
I am not looking for a job but an opportunity to serve and take Halton Region into the 21st century as against the complacency, status quo, rule by clique, and the atmosphere of entitlement that pervades our Region. Political office should not be tied to the being of any one politician till death does them part. That is not democratic.
I hope I shall have the opportunity to serve and the people will realize that the Emperor has no clothes.
Warm regards
Dr Syed Ali Naqvi
Candidate for Halton Regional Chair
http://www.votesyednaqvi.ca
Well said Syed. At times I find it difficult to believe that the media really want qualified candidates. The qualified candidates always seem to get smacked by the Press. This begs the question why?
You know I got a compliment on my “cheerful shirt” that night. 🙂 It can get really hot in a room with hundreds of people. Why blend in with 7 guys sweltering in suits? Better to be cool and comfortable.
Voters can rest assured I own two very fine suits from Scriveners of Burlington. Also some custom tailored dress shirts and cufflinks. I’m not sure if socks effect electability, but I have both black and brown available depending on shoe colour. 🙂
Just to clarify; The question put to me was why not run in Aldershot? I did not mean to diminish the hopes of or speak for other candidates. Ward 1 contenders are out on the street working hard on a daily basis. I was then going to go on to indicate problems at the regional level, but the conversation got broken up at that point.
I also would love Burlington Ward 1 all candidates meeting.
Greg Woodruff
ElectGW.ca
Mr. Muir
I too would welcome an all candidates debate in Ward 1. When I was making the final decision to run I mentioned my interest to a few aquaintences and they said don’t waste your time Rick is going to win, he can’t be beat. I have picked up on some things that suggest he is not as popular as it may appear. An all candidates meeting would give the voters in Ward 1 a chance to hear what all candidates have to say so they can make an informed choice, not just voting out of habit.
Maggie Steiss
Candidate for Ward 1
Dave, you can play the sympathy card all you want. Contrary to you claim of physical and traumatic symptoms of of this alleged injury, and thus preventing Anne from fully participating in meaningful dialog with the various committees,this has not stopped Anne from making several appearances at city hall and generally making a nuisance of herself. The region of Halton has it right, and the city should follow their example
Pepper Parr was present during our delegation at City Council with regard to these injuries where we challenged the position of the City Manager in terms of the City’s failure to assist a person with disabilities known to be on the third floor to safety (which resulted in injuries to Mrs. Marsden and the notification to Council that these injuries had occurred and the City in terms of her insurance claim). Mr. Parr also directed us to the piece where the equipment that should have been used to bring Mrs. Marsden down from the third floor(confirmed by the Deputy Fire Chief, Kim Phillips and Marianne Meed Ward as accurate information) was stored. He advised Anne and I that the equipment was stored in a cupboard outside Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. To deny knowledge of Mrs. Marsden’s injuries in these circumstances leaves us questioning this particular Editor’s attention to the facts known by Mr. Parr who we understand is the owner/publisher of the Burlington Gazette.
Dave Marsden
(Personal Support Person for Mrs. Anne Marsden as defined in the AODA)
Editor’s note:
I do recall telling someone where the stretcher was stored – I think it may have been then General Manager Kim Phillips. However, I have no recollection of any evacuation of city hall or that Ms Marsden was injured. I don’t deny that Ms Marsden might have been injured – I just have no idea when or where any accident took place nor the extent of the injuries. The Marsden’s have this remarkable ability to make a mountain out of a molehill.
The third candidate for Mayor was Anne Marsden. Had Peter Rusin not filed nomination papers Ms Marsden would not be on the ballot; his being a candidate gave her the cover she needed to run. Quote from Burlington Gazette.
Mr. Rusin was not a consideration in Anne registering for Mayor on Thursday morning. We had no idea that there was another candidate. We believed the Mayoral race was between Anne and Rick Goldring when she registered Thursday morning.
Your statement “Had Peter Rusin not filed nomination papers Ms.(the title is Mrs.) Marsden would not be on the ballot.” is a figment of your imagination and does not belong in municipal election reporting. Further to declare “He (Peter Rusin) being a candidate gave her the cover she needed to run.” is also a nonsensical figment of your imagination. Anne has never needed a cover to serve her city, region, province and country as she has for the last 30 years out of her household budget. Perhaps you can explain to your readers what on earth you mean by “gave her the cover she needed to run”.
The only requirements Anne needed to go down to City Hall and register for Mayor, was 1. a full recovery from the physical and emotional injuries sustained at City Hall during an emergency evacuation exercise the details of which, Mr. Parr, you are very familiar with and 2. my blessing to register. September 11, 2014 9:00 a.m. was when these two requirements were accomplished. If only you would talk to people, like Tina Depko does, rather than fantasize why people do what they do, you would have far less of a negative impact on the democratic process than you presently have.
Dave Marsden (Personal Support Person for Anne Marsden as described in the AODA)
Editor’s note: The Gazette has no knowledge whatsoever of any accident that took place during an emergency evacuation at city hall.
Well said Dave. How long did it take for Anne to write this rebuttal?
I would like to see an all candidates meeting in Ward 1. If as noted in this story, Rick Craven will be hard to beat, at least the candidates that are trying should be given an opportunity to explain themselves and to challenge Craven, and Rick can tell us his agenda for the next 4 years if he wins. There appear to be some capable people and they should be given the chance to introduce themselves to voters.
While it is tough to beat an incumbent, Rick Craven was first elected by doing just that – he beat Linda Schreiber, an incumbent. In my opinion, the candidates meeting was a key influence, as it gave Craven a chance to challenge Linda on her political plans, and he took no prisoners in his approach, by my memory as I was there.
Is there no organization in Ward 1, or in general, that can take this organization on?
At the moment I am feeling cheated that there are no plans for such a meeting so I can hear all the candidates tell us what they think and would do if elected. I have met one candidate briefly, and know Councillor Craven but still want to hear his re-election agenda, but that’s it.
One of my frustrations living in Burlington, is we do not have a traditional newspaper or radio station. Trying to find out what is new or going on in this city is almost impossible. Oddly enough I learned about the Burlington Gazette by reading a Hamilton Spec article that Joan Little wrote on the ward 6 debate. How ironic and thank you Mr. Pepper. As to the ward 2, slash mayoralty, slash regional candidates debate, I thought the Lions club did a good job, given the challenge of so many candidates. By the end though, it was difficult to know who was on first, as candidates were popping up to answer questions posed to other candidates?
Overall impression, Mayor Goldring held his own after being poked in the eye by Mr. Russin. Not sure what to make of Russin? In spite of airing a few good punches I was left wanting? Example did the city botch the Ikea deal and if so how?
I was also left wanting as to what exactly regional council does for Burlington. Mr Carr listed a number of commercial accomplishments in the region, none of which I believe were located in Burlington. Just like Waterloo is known for Rim, now Blackberry, we desperately need to establish who we are as a city to the business world and being rated number one by Money Sense isn’t getting the jobs and development we need?
As to ward 2, Marianne Meed-Ward came across as authentic and well prepared, seemed to have a good handle on the issues, past and future and in my humble opinion was able to parry the indirect sniping.
In the run up to the debate I emailed questions to the Mayor (Mr Russin was not a candidate at the time) and Ward 2 candidates, and am happy to say they all took the time to answer some or all of my questions, not necessarily to my satisfaction. That being said, I am pleased to see democracy is at work in Burlington and want to thank all of the candidates for putting their names forward.