Brennan or Ruttan?

[titan5]

Gary is absolutely right about " There's no money in it! "

A council member gets $25,539 a year plus some expense money and if they are also a (5 out of the 8 council members get a seat on the RDN) member of the RDN $9,371 a year. A third of that total of $34,910 is tax free.

A young guy like you riverrat could earn a lot more then $34,910 in the private sector. Now if you wished to use a 'councillors experience' to move into a mayoralty position and then to provincial or federal elected official and then on to the RED Chamber, you could earn more and have more financial security in the future.

On that note: Politics is nothing like it was prior to the 90's. A local MLA told me that before the 90's, the two provincial parties used to argue back and forth in the house, then when the lunch break came, they would intermingle and discuss riding and home life or maybe a golf game or a hockey game. THEN BAM! Something changed, today, you seldom see an NDP and Liberal candidate having lunch or breakfast together. Anyway, that local MLA did not run in the next election because the joy left . .. . . . . . .and let the wind blow .. ..

Don't forget though that Council is less than a part-time job. So a very nice supplement to a regular job. In 2007 there was only 23 council meetings of which Korpan missed 3 (13% missed) and Brennan missed 1 (4.35%)

So Korpan got just over $4,300 per council meeting and Brennan just over $1,100 and 1/3 is tax free. Plus expenses and other perks and again while working a full time job if the person wishes.

[Blue]

There is a lot more to council than their regular meetings. I think they are underpaid for what is expected of them, many cannot work other jobs because they are busy with civic duties. It's not like we can expect them to work 60 hours a week on that pay, it is not realistic. If we want qualified people to help run this city and guides its direction, we should pay accordingly. I can think of several very well qualified people who would run for council if pay was more acceptable.

*I know their pay is ok, but we are talking about those in power/decision making positions with the city...

[Rickj]

Realistically if it were a straight Larry vs. Gary, Larry would still not win. So that makes him a spoiler. Hate to say it but, no way the majority of voters would select Larry.

I didnt say Larry would win I said he could win.

Truthfully many elections are really about who you dont want. If Gary was a great mayor people wouldnt even be looking at John R or Diane B. So in reality I think many of the votes are not people selecting John or Diane but rather "not selecting" Gary.

[Rickj]

There is a lot more to council than their regular meetings. I think they are underpaid for what is expected of them, many cannot work other jobs because they are busy with civic duties. It's not like we can expect them to work 60 hours a week on that pay, it is not realistic. If we want qualified people to help run this city and guides its direction, we should pay accordingly. I can think of several very well qualified people who would run for council if pay was more acceptable.

*I know their pay is ok, but we are talking about those in power/decision making positions with the city...

I disagree Blue... the regular meetings are the only place where decisions are to be made. While there are committee meetings there are not as many as people make out.

As for Civic duties.... what are we talking here? Ribbon cutting? These are not people who are getting their hands dirty doing work. That is why we pay $200K plus to some employees and $100K + to many others.. these are the people that actually get things done.

So based on your statements may I assume that you are saying that none of the existing members of Council are qualified to do what they are doing?

[titan5]

Larry is a novelty candidate and is most likely aware of it.

Maybe he is secretly a Gary supporter and is doing his part to help Gary get in; 'cause if he really wanted Gary out, he would not be running, and an intelligent person would realize that.

[Rickj]

Maybe he is secretly a Gary supporter and is doing his part to help Gary get in; 'cause if he really wanted Gary out, he would not be running, and an intelligent person would realize that.

Maybe he just doesnt care about Gary at all and he believes he could be a good Mayor. Just because it might split the vote or affect the outcome does not indicate that Larry is not an intelligent person nor does it indicate that anyone that supports Larry in his efforts is not an intelligent person.

I think many people are just too "get Gary out-centric" and rather than going into the election thinking we have to get Gary out how about thinking "out of all the candidates who is the best for the job?".

Thats the way to approach an election as any intelligent person would realize.

[Smokey©]

The only problem with the question; who is best for the job, is that the answer might just be Gary Korpan.

[Rickj]

The only problem with the question; who is best for the job, is that the answer might just be Gary Korpan.

And if that is the case then the residents just have to live with that.

[titan5]

And if that is the case then the residents just have to live with that.

With that thinking, why have council, they defer to staff 99% of the time and according to the City web site Council Minutes, of the 2400+ motions before Council since the 2005 election, Diane and Gary have opposed one another 4.74% of the time. So Diane vs. Gary pretty much same/same.

[Rickj]

With that thinking, why have council, they defer to staff 99% of the time and according to the City web site Council Minutes, of the 2400+ motions before Council since the 2005 election, Diane and Gary have opposed one another 4.74% of the time. So Diane vs. Gary pretty much same/same.

I am confused as to what relevance this statistic is to my comment that if Gary was the best one for the job then people will just have to live with that fact?

Or was this comment just another attempt at saying "Vote for Ruttan"?