Raise the Hammer

I noticed that earlier too. Lol. That would be great to see.

Interestingly, there appears to be a Lloyd Ferguson running in Ward 2 in addition to incumbent councillor Lloyd Ferguson who is running for re-election in Ward 12.

LOL, I thought that was a typo at first. Looks like me and the rest of Ward 2 are spoiled for choice this time around.

Quite the field of candidates. This being the first municipal election I'm eligible to vote in since acquiring citizenship, is this a normal number of candidates?

I don't have stats handy, but this sure seems abnormally high to me. I've never seen a slate so big.

Look at it this way:

Last election, the most number of candidates for Councillor was eight in Ward Seven and a grand total of seven people ran for mayor.

The city is being manipulative by not listing candidates' website addresses. Incumbents get a benefit, the public loses. Interested voters will have to email or Google each candidate to get their web address. Pain for nothing.

What a motley collection of misfits and do nothings that the voters have to choose from. If this is going to be the group that steers Hamilton into the future, we have no hope at all.

Pasuta by acclimation? Only name listed in Ward 14.

Whaddya mean Politico? Your not suggesting RTH bigmouths shoud have signed up rather than just spew off to the other basement dwellers here? Or do you think the next council should just make their decisions based on what the kiddies here tell them, cuz they have all the right answers!

What a motley collection of misfits and do nothings that the voters have to choose from. If this is going to be the group that steers Hamilton into the future, we have no hope at all.

Politico brings up a standard point. (Not that I believe they have a qualified opinion here; I sense an extraordinarily cynical attitude that's probably not been informed by any sort of research into the actual candidates' qualifications or appropriateness for serving.) The idea of handing over the keys to the store, crossing our fingers, hoping for the best...while expecting the worst for the ensuing four years.

Um...why?

Why do we do this, why is this our default for how we're locally governed?

Except for the fact that it's our longstanding habit, our tradition, as fueled by widespread apathy, there is no reason why it has to be this way.

But rather than harp on about my own initiatives regarding an increased 'relationship of engagement' on the part of us, not the expected suggestion that Councillors do more to remain engaged with their constituents, I'm going to ask two simple questions:

How do you feel the average Hamiltonian expects things to play out each term regarding what their role in the process is?

I'm wondering if I'm correct in believing that most people want to vote, then not be bothered in contributing anything else over the next four years, that they believe that 'good governance is what we pay these people to execute and I shouldn't be expected to do any more than vote.'

If this is the case, and what I'm suggesting regarding more involvement on our parts is a pipe-dream, don't you think we at least need to have a better informed citizenry choosing its Councillors? (Better yet, don't we need a better way to determine a candidate's qualifications, if we're going to remain generally 'uninformed' across the board?)

Comment edited by mystoneycreek on 2010-09-13 03:54:15

Some of these candidates are truly delusional or doing the herbal again...unless they are running just to challenge the true contenders on issues, then koodos to them and Thank You.

Really though, what real contenders are there? I suppose serving in these positions once elected, these individuals don't have much to lose. I can think of many individuals that would be much better to run budgets,financing and management of our fair city but would stand to lose much in their own personal finances. This is the obvious reason for the lack of sound business minds in the running.

Our city should be run like a house...the foundation is the most important part...for all the rest is really frivolity waiting to cave in on itself if there is not the fundamental base for building upon.

Serious issues have been forgotten...what happened to dealing with the water main issues and flooding in the east end? The stadium will be nice but this "playground" issue saddens me when I think about the taxpayers who can't even get adequate or affordable insurance for their homes.

Our city needs a better, and more profitable downtown business core which a Harbourfront or Aberdeen stadium site would fuel. Any event held at the stadium would attract a crowd of restaurant diners and shoppers. The east mountain location would merely add to urban sprawl and leave a depressed downtown core to spiral downward stuck in a business cycle perma-depression.

Dont underestimate thepride`and newly raised self-esteem that Hamiltonians will experience with a stadium site in place. Positive spending and community involvement can only mean a nicer, happier city to be living and visiting in. Spending will snowball exponentially and create a wealthier economy while the community enjoys the rebirth into a new business cycle.

I, personally, hope for the harbourfront site because I really want the rest of the world to see a stadium when they drive across the Burlington Skyway and not just coke plant emissions and a dismal bay with suicidal seagull roadkill along the Easport drive. Mr. Bob Young says there are not enough seats for fans in that proposal...last time I was at a game with nearly full capacity was last season when the TiCats were making a comeback. Hamilton has the MOST LOYAL, DEDICATED FAN BASE that I have ever known. These fans are in need of not just urban renewal, and a economic injection of funding for business renewal. They need to know that their team will give back that dedication, faith, and pride in it`s representative city. A downtown stadium fits the bill!

So, to return to the topic of candidacy for councillor and mayor, do any of these contenders have the foresight, business savy, or vision that this city of Hamilton needs.

Some great comments on here once again ! If you want more information on a Candidate for Ward 13, Dundas...check out The Hamiltonian.
Have a great day, and as always...a pleasure reading the words of so many on this site.