Browsing posts in the ‘Alderman – Ward 4’ category

Calgary, meet your new council

1
October 19, 2010 - By

The unofficial results are in and we have seen a mix of change and returning of the old guard happening. It’s a whole new ball game now; an entirly new dynamic. Here’s the list of who the fifteeen around the table will be:

Mayor - Naheed Nenshi
Ward 1 – Dale Hodges
Ward 2 – Gord Lowe
Ward 3 – Jim Stevenson
Ward 4 - Gael Macleod
Ward 5 – Ray Jones
Ward 6 - Richard Pootmans
Ward 7 – Druh Farrell
Ward 8 – John Mar
Ward 9 - Gian-Carlo Carra
Ward 10 – Andre Chabot
Ward 11 – Brian Pincott
Ward 12 - Shane Keating
Ward 13 – Diane Colley-Urquhart
Ward 14 - Peter Demong

The biggest question facing how this new council will work together is what kind of a chair will Naheed Nenshi be. Will he be a bullying mayor (not likely) or more laissez faire in his control of meetings? Or might he be more like Bronconnier and give alderman some leeway, but keep them on a short leash if they stray too far outside what is prescribed in the procedural bylaw. An alderman like Druh Farrell will live and die [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9, Mayor of Calgary, Political Theory

yyc Twibates Part II: Aldermanic

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October 17, 2010 - By

This is Part II of getting the Twibate answers up.  There’s some more information about format and decisions on our first post, yyc Twibates Part I: Intro and Mayoral.

We held two twitter debates for aldermanic – one for odd-numbered wards and one for even-numbered wards.  We had 10 participants on the first night, and 12 on the second night.

Because of the number of participants, I will merely list answers in order that they came in rather than a column for each candidate.  Unless you don’t want it to be readable

A number of candidates answered with multiple posts.  They are grouped together, and the time of the first post determines order.

Odd-Numbered Wards

Participants include:

Ward 1: Ric Lockhart and Chris Harper (First two questions answered during, the rest answered later that evening)

Ward 3: Gary Tremblay

Ward 7: Michael Krisko (Krisko’s tweets unfortunately did not show up on the feed, but we acknowledge his participation), Druh Farrell (answered all questions after)

Ward 9: Steve Chapman, Gian-Carlo Carra

Ward 11: Brian Pincott, Wayne Frisch, James Maxim, Ernest McCutcheon (post-event – see comments section)

Ward 13: Andrew [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9, Events

What Do These Schmucks Do? – Alderman Edition

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October 14, 2010 - By

(Nation, the following is a re-post, with edits and additions, of a post I put out in October 2007.)

The City of Calgary, whether by design or by unbelievable oversight, has NO information available on-line as to what, exactly, an Alderman’s job really IS.

Therefore, I have little recourse but to consult the Book of Armaments – er, I mean, the Queen’s Printer, and take the words right from the legislative horse’s mouth:

General duties of councillors

Councillors have the following duties:
(a) to consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole and to bring to council’s attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality;
(b) to participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality;
(c) to participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the council;
(d) to obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer or a person designated by the chief administrative officer;
(e) to keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a council or council committee [...]Read More

Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9, Political Theory

Ward 4 Interview with Jon Wong

October 8, 2010 - By

Jon Wong was born and raised in Calgary and in ward 4. He went to the University of Western Ontario and received a B.A. in political science and governmental affairs with honours. He currently works as a marketing and business director for a painting contractor. In his spare time, Jon is involved with coaching amateur sports at the club level and at all three levels of schooling.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Wong wants to give back to the community that he was born and raised in.

“I commend all candidates for running. It’s not an easy thing to do,” says Wong.

However, Wong says that there has been a lack of focus and understanding about the community from candidates as his top concern is meeting community needs.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

Wong hopes that Calgary will evolve to what Plan It set out the city to be. He also wants to see Calgary as “the best place in the world” to live in.

“We will have a self sustainable community, a vibrant economy, and the infrastructure is there for everyone,” says Wong.

Is social media an important driving force, or [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Carol Poon

October 8, 2010 - By

Carol Poon was born in Calgary at the Holy Cross Hospital. She lived in Chinatown until she was 7 and moved to North Haven, which was then still on the edge of town. She graduate from James Fowler and went on to become an X-ray technician. She began a message therapy career in 1990 after attending Mount Royal College. She is married with two children and still lives in North Haven.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Poon says that she is running in ward 4 because she grew up in this area and because “it was something I needed to do.”

“I feel I have the skills for it,” Poon told CalgaryPolitics.com. “You can’t complain about things, you have to do something about it.”

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“I would like to see a city where transit is the primary source,” says Poon.

She believes Calgary will be a place where communities are multi-use and community centred. She also envisions not just an oil and gas capital, but an energy capital.

Is social media an important driving force, or is it still the voting demographic and the hot issues that dictate [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Curtis Kruschel

October 8, 2010 - By

Curtis Kruschel has lived in Huntington Hills for the past fourteen years with his wife and two daughters. He is involved in his community mainly through sports. He is a referee coordinator for many north west communities in Calgary, as well as the president of the Nose Creek Swim Association.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

“I’m running because I’ve been an active part of the community,” Kruschel tells CalgaryPoliticsl.com.

Whether it is the swim club or the soccer club, Kruschel says that he is deeply involved in his community and that is important when you are running for office. He wants to take it a step further by running so that he can give a voice for communities and clubs that he is involved in.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

Kruschel sees a large train network in place that would join the four outer towns that currently surround Calgary. He believes that Calgary will also be a hub for oil business in Canada and a strong business core in the downtown area.

However, he also sees a future where the city will be more dependent on renewable resources such as solar, and [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Leslie Bedard

1
October 7, 2010 - By

Leslie Bedard was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Alberta when she was twelve. Later on, she worked for the Edmonton John Howard Society after attending Grant MacEwan College. She moved to Calgary in 1997 and pursued a B.A. in English and a B.Ed at the University of Calgary. She has taught in several high schools in the city, and is now pursuing a Masters in Counseling Psychology.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Bedard cited her main reason for running in Ward 4 because she lives in the ward. She believes that she is a strong candidate because she “can work together and bring something to the discussion.”

“I just think there’s a lot of people in this because people are angry,” says Bedard. “It’s not a job we should be doing out of anger.”

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“I hope that Calgary maintains its small town feeling,” Bedard said.

Bedard believes that the sense of community and friendliness is important to Calgary while trying to maintaining and growing itself as a business hub.

Beyond that, Bedard hopes that people will start to carry Calgary through all sorts of growth regardless [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Jane Morgan

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October 7, 2010 - By

Jane Morgan was born in Drumheller, Alberta, and currently lives in Highland Park. She has worked in a variety of jobs including insurance and telecommunications. Since 2004, she has owned her own book-keeping and consulting company. She has been active with the Wildrose Alliance, and acted as executive director in 2009.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Morgan wants to restore accountability and the lost confidence people have in city hall. She says that being fiscally responsible is one of her top priorities if elected. She also described how she has been through good times and bad with Calgary, and it was time for her to give back to the community.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“Technology will continue to grow in leaps and bounds,” says Morgan. “What I like to see are more unique ideas of how you work, such as telecommunicating, and work centered somewhere else.”

Morgan’s own employees work from home, and believes that this could be a growing in trend for Calgary in years to come.

Morgan also believes that growth will be key to Calgary’s future.

Is social media an important driving force, or is it still the [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Analyzing The Aldermanic Polls

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October 7, 2010 - By

Today, VoteCalgary released their All-Wards Aldermanic Poll done by O’Connell Enterprises. In each ward, 280 people were surveyed, which allows for a ±5.8% margin of error, 19 times out of 20. Here is the voter breakdown for those surveyed:

Age 18-34: 11%
Age 35-49: 25%
Age 50-64: 33%
Age 65+: 30%
Refused: 2%

Now, it’s clearly a skewed poll when you consider only 36% of the respondents were younger than a half-century, but clearly there wasn’t an age quota guideline for this poll. This was indicated by the fact that age was the LAST question instead of a screening question. Regardless, they did a solid job of matching their gender quota 50/50 split.

For the purpose of analyzing this poll, we will take “total support” as the first number and include the firm support, e.g. Candidate X – 20% (15%).

Ward 1
Dale Hodges – 37% (24%)
Chris Harper – 3% (1%)
Ric Lockhart – 2% (1%)
Bill Scott – 2% (1%)
Judi Vendenbrink – (1%)
Undecided – 43%

It looks like Ald. Hodges is well on his way to re-election, as the amount of voters for the also-rans don’t [...]Read More

Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9

cjsw’s 2010 civic election coverage!

October 6, 2010 - By

HOLY. So basically CJSW 90.9FM is super rad. We’ve launched our civic election coverage featuring over 80 interviews and forum recordings and honestly, it blows my mind. Back in August when we started sending out e-mails I honesty had no idea how it would turn out and how many interviews we’d really be able to do – there were so many candidates! Click the image to check it out!

Each interview had to be booked (and then re-booked, as the case was at times), conducted, edited and uploaded. We also needed a rad website to showcase all our interviews and Aendrew and Reid nailed it. In short, we had about 25 volunteers who put this all together for your benefit. Twenty five volunteers, two months, and over eighty interviews. I’m insanely proud of it. Kudos to Joe Burima, CJSW’s News Director, who works like a madman 24/7 and makes the world a better place.

Anyways, listen to the interviews, subscribe to the podcast and take our interviews on the go. Be informed. AND VOTE. Don’t let all our hard work go to waste. Kudos to all the candidates who were [...]Read More

Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9, Calgary Issues, Mayor of Calgary

Ward 4 Interview with Sean Chu

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October 6, 2010 - By

Sean Chu immigrated to Canada in 1985 after three years of military service in Taiwan. He worked for his family’s pizza joint before becoming a police officer. He decided to be involved in politics after having children. He has received the Alberta Centennial Medal for Outstanding Community Service , and picked to be on the Premier’s Calgary Advisory Committee.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Chu believes he can make a difference because it is his nature to help people out, and one way to do that is through city council.

Chu has a variety of volunteer experience, and believes his connections to ward 4 will highlight his involvement. He says that his family and friends all still reside in ward 4 and he wants to give back to that community.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“I envision the city to be five times its size,” says Chu.

He also envisions a north-central LRT and better traffic flow. Chu cited an article that if traffic flow is improved by 10%, productivity goes up by 25%. He also sees a better bidding process for the city and that there will not be “the ‘f’ [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Brad Northcott

October 6, 2010 - By

Brad Northcott grew up in Huntington Hills and when to John A. MacDonald and John G. Diefenbaker schools before they were junior and senior highs respectively. He has raised all of his kids here and has decided to give back to the community as his kids now have all grown up. He graduated from SAIT as a journeyman plumber and now operates his own plumbing business.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Northcott thought that issues such as pools and libraries needed to be addressed because these were concerns that may not get as much coverage in the media. He also thought that the airport tunnel issue was extremely important.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“It looks like we’ll have higher density in the established neighborhoods,” says Northcott.

He also believes that the north-central LRT line will be an important issue in the future, and was concerned about the disruptions it may cause in the future for communities.

Northcott looks back and is amazed that ward 4 is now “the outer ring of inner communities.”

“Density will grow and pressure on infrastructure will grow,” remarks Northcott. “The building blocks need to be put [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Gael Macleod

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October 5, 2010 - By

Gael Macleod was born in the Martimes, and has lived in Sandstone since 1995. She has worked in the banking and finance industry for  fifteen years. At one point, she worked for the Treasury Department for the Government of Alberta. She was also the chair of the board of directors for the Calgary Community Lottery Board. She is currently the executive director for the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and has been for almost 20 years.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Macleod believes that she understands and knows what is going on with the issues.

“I have done a lot of volunteer work with the city,” says Macleod. “I have a really interesting balance of skills, education, and knowledge of what’s going on.”

She believes that this is a natural progression for her. She also believes that having an MBA and a strong finance background are credentials Calgarians are looking for.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

“I would hope the city would not be much bigger in terms of geographic scope,” says Macleod.

Macleod also believes there will be a lot more LRT routes, and that Calgary will be “a leader of alternative [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Jeff Haussecker

October 5, 2010 - By

Jeff Haussecker was born in Saskatchewan, and obtained a B.Sc and Bachelor of Architecture from McGill University .He spent 2 years working with the Canadian International Development Agency in India on a township redevelopment project. He has been an architect for eighteen years, and has managed and design projects for North American countries, as well as overseas.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Haussecker believes that the interaction he has had with people around the world will give him the necessary experience to be an alderman. He told CalgaryPolitics.com that there was a turning point in his life and that he wanted to pursue this position.

“This position is absolutely perfect for me,” says Haussecker.

Haussecker also pointed out that he lives in the ward.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

Haussecker envisions a much greener city with almost no vehicles to rely on. He wants to see green roofs being put into place on newer skyscrapers. As well, a more pedestrian friendly city is on his mind.

He is also hopeful that the city will not need as many police officers regarding addictions in the future.

Is social media an important driving force, [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Dwight Boehm

October 4, 2010 - By

Dwight Boehm was born in Manitoba and started working by helping out at his mother’s restaurant when he was eight. He moved to Calgary when he was twelve, and has only moved a couple of times away when he was working for Canadian Pacific. He has lived in his current home in Hanson Ranch for the past twelve years, and is an instructor at both the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

The main impetus for Boehm’s candidacy has been the financial mismanagement that he believes is stifling city council.

“I looked at the other candidates and the ability doesn’t exist,” says Boehm. “I have that experience, ability, and desire.”

Boehm describes his campaign as a one man show, and one without any political baggage.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

Boehm envisions a city where the population will hover around three to four million residents. He also believes that we will be a “more diversified city in terms of living arrangement.”

He hopes that there will be high density living spaces with a minimized use of resources, one that “makes sense in terms of the environment.”

[...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward 4 Interview with Tommy Low

October 4, 2010 - By

Tommy Low was born and raised in Winnipeg, and moved to Calgary in 1982. He received a bachelor of commerce and has had a very successful real estate career. Much of his business has been referrals, and he has served many clients. Low believes that his work ethic, which has developed from his real estate career, will make him a good alderman.

Why are running for alderman in Ward 4?

Low’s motivation to run in Ward 4 is partly because he lives in the ward. He believes that it is time for him to give back to the community, and that Calgary has treated him very well. He believes that it is very rewarding to be able to work for a city like Calgary.

What does the city look like 100 years from now?

Low believes that Calgary will be a very vibrant city, which could establish itself like London or New York. He also believes that being an international city would also be important for Calgary 100 years from now.

Is social media an important driving force, or is it still the voting demographic and the hot issues that dictate the election?

Low points out that many things are [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Ward races to watch for this election

30
September 27, 2010 - By

With 14 other pseudo mayoral races, there has to be an analysis somewhere of the potential ward races. Here is a breakdown of some of the more crucial races that people should be keeping their eyes on (especially if you live in them):

Ward 1: This is a battle between challenger Chris Harper and veteran Dale Hodges, as many political observers note. Harper has been door knocking very early on in the year, and has hit over 10,000 homes by the end of August. Jennifer Banks last time ran an extremely successful and close campaign against Hodges, taking 40% of the popular vote. This is an important race because Harper may end up losing because of the split vote in that ward. In 2007, only 3 candidates were in the ward 1 race. Now we have 6, and Jennifer Banks is not in the race. Ward 1 is also home to the University of Calgary. Ward 1 will be an indicator of whether or not those aged 18-24 will be coming out to vote. Should they not, it would mean that the city will continue to struggle with the youth for a least another decade.

Candidates who are running:

Harper, [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9

How Many Calgary Municipal Election Candidates Will Get The Nomination Day Blues?

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September 6, 2010 - By

Anyone that is actively following the 2010 Calgary Municipal Election scene should be getting excited that the races for Alderman, Mayor and School Board Trustee are about to become official!  With nomination day fast approaching, the race is also on for some of the candidates to get their paperwork in order in advance of the September 20, 2010 deadline. 

The 2010 election is expected to include the most candidates that Calgary has ever seen and some of the races are becoming more and more crowded every day, which is a good thing for local democracy.  While I believe that everyone has a democratic right to run for office and respect those who put their names forward for this election, I wonder how many of these candidates will actually be on the ballots after nomination day.  I took a look at the City of Calgary website for more information on the nomination requirements, which I have summarized below:

Required Signatures

All candidates must be nominated by eligible electors. The required number of signatures are:

  • Mayor – 100 Signatures

 

  • Alderman – 100 Signatures

 

  • School Trustee – 25 Signatures

If running for Alderman, and/or Public or Separate School [...]Read More

Tags: Categories: Alderman - Ward 1, Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 12, Alderman - Ward 13, Alderman - Ward 14, Alderman - Ward 2, Alderman - Ward 3, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 5, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 8, Alderman - Ward 9, Calendar, Mayor of Calgary, Political Theory, School Board Trustees - Calgary Board of Education, School Board Trustees - Calgary Catholic School Board

Interview With Calgary 2010 Ward 4 Aldermanic Candidate Sean Chu

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September 2, 2010 - By

This is a continuation of a series of interviews that I will post about local candidates that are running in the 2010 Calgary municipal election. I do not endorse any of the candidates necessarily, unless stated otherwise. The intent is to allow the candidates a forum in which they can share some of their views.
This interview is with Sean Chu, who will be running for Alderman in Ward 4 this term. As noted in a previous post, I know Sean personally and have worked with him on a local board over the past few years. Ward 4 will be a highly contested race and the number of candidates running seems to expand each day!

1) Some of your opponents will make a big issue of the fact that you do not live in the ward. How do you respond to these concerns?

SC: I recognize that this would be an issue when I decided to run for Ward 4, but with my roots, and connections all tied to Ward 4, I felt right putting my name forward for the October election.
When I came to Calgary decades ago, Ward 4 was my first home. [...]Read More

Tags: ι Categories: Alderman - Ward 4

Contender updates in wards 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

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August 6, 2010 - By

This is not a big as the mega post, but there are definitely some candidates that were not reported last time, and some new ones that have popped up.

Ward 4 – Brad Northcott: He will be the 8th candidate in a very crowded race in Ward 4.  He is an owner and operator of a plumbing and gas fitting company. He supports the airport tunnel and an eventual LRT connecting to the airport. As well, he will not support secondary suites unless the parking issue is addressed (adequate parking is what he wants). Ward 4 now becomes an unpredictable race with so many different candidates to choose from, which is on top of the numerous number of mayoral candidates to have a headache over.

Website

Ward 6 – Robert Wills: There is very little information about Robert Wills than what is provided by the VoteCalgary.ca website. From the response that Wills gave to the site, he states that he work with in the city and has 19 years of experience in municipal planning development and building [...]Read More

Tags: ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι ι Categories: Alderman - Ward 10, Alderman - Ward 11, Alderman - Ward 4, Alderman - Ward 6, Alderman - Ward 7, Alderman - Ward 9