Election 2008

[titan5]

Okay other than John Ruttan running for Mayor (yes I am a supporter), has anyone heard anything more about who might be running for Council?

I have heard that Jeet has his papers in to seek the seat for the new Nanaimo Provincial riding, so his seat may be open.

I have heard that Dawn Tyndall has been talking to Bill Holdom about trying a run at Council again, with Bill thinking of running for Mayor.

And before anyone rails about how Ruttan lives in Lantzville, the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce just awarded him "Nanaimo's Citizen of the Year" due to his long standing contribution to our town.

[dilligaf]

And before anyone rails about how Ruttan lives in Lantzville, the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce just awarded him "Nanaimo's Citizen of the Year" due to his long standing contribution to our town.

I think Rickj is going to have a bird over that one.

[Rickj]

No Bird.... Any private group is more than welcome to vote "Citizen of the Year" to whoever they want. Many organizations have created their own "Citizen of the Year" award. Depends on their version of the criteria.

Each organization will quite often promote their own. Does not mean that the individual would be a good elected official. It is a fair distance between promoting business and making land use/infrastructure/social planning/public safety decisions.

In terms of creating interest, promoting discussion and generally being counted on for interesting comments however irrelevant I nominate dilligaf as NanaimoInformation.com's 1st Annual Citizen of the Year.

[dilligaf]

In terms of creating interest, promoting discussion and generally being counted on for interesting comments however irrelevant I nominate dilligaf as NanaimoInformation.com's 1st Annual Citizen of the Year.

But you dont know if I live in Nanaimo! I could be anywhere.

[Rickj]

But you dont know if I live in Nanaimo! I could be anywhere.

Thats ok... I know that being elected NanaimoInformation.com's Citizen of the Year will not put you into the situation where you will have to actually make any relevant decisions.

[dilligaf]

Each organization will quite often promote their own. Does not mean that the individual would be a good elected official. It is a fair distance between promoting business and making land use/infrastructure/social planning/public safety decisions.

On a more serious note, you are presuming that the electorate cannot be counted on to decide who will make land use/infrastructure/social planning/public safety decisions for them. I would prefer to have the choice of the best candidates and make that decision myself.

[Rickj]

On a more serious note, you are presuming that the electorate cannot be counted on to decide who will make land use/infrastructure/social planning/public safety decisions for them. I would prefer to have the choice of the best candidates and make that decision myself.

This may sound a bit cynical but the electoral system be it municipal/provincial or federal is not really about those that are best for the job. Certainly at the provincial/federal level it is about who gets the most new members for the party and also gets those people out to a nomination meeting.

At the municipal level it is more vague but much of it is about name recognition not thinking ability. Does anyone believe that anyone on any council (with a few exceptions) are Mensa members? Not at all, in many cases they are people with time on their hands who have an interest in a good debate.

Look at the expertise of council? Any land use planners, social workers, infrastructure experts, emergency planners etc?

Critical thinking skills should be required however even those are exercised so rarely. How often does any member of Council (except Mr. Sherry) go against a recommendation of staff?

[dilligaf]

This may sound a bit cynical but the electoral system be it municipal/provincial or federal is not really about those that are best for the job.

It is for me. It should be for everyone. Those who are best for the job are the only ones I will work for.

[wino]

In terms of creating interest, promoting discussion and generally being counted on for interesting comments however irrelevant I nominate dilligaf as NanaimoInformation.com's 1st Annual Citizen of the Year.

I second the nomination!

[titan5]

Anyone else confirmed to run? I can only assume after the story in the Daily News about McNabb pursuing a sports multiplex, that he is running again and this will be one of the planks in his platform.