Brennan or Ruttan?

[titan5]

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"?

Sorry for the confusion. The relevance is that you said vote for the best. Yet our Council always seems to defer to staff, so perhaps the best for the job is staff and if so, who needs council?

[riverrat]

Re: My original post being "misleading", and implying that it's a "two-horse race":
This thread wasn't intended to convince people that they shouldn't vote for Larry or Gary. As I said, it is intended as a meeting ground for those of us who have ALREADY decided against those candidates, and who wish to engage in a dialogue that helps us to decide which of the remaining candidates to vote for.

Anybody is welcome to start a thread about comparing all four candidates, or whatever - but there is nothing wrong with giving a thread a particular focus.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on all matters here - a lot of food for thought.

However, I do ask that we try to keep the conversation to what this thread is supposed to be about - Ruttan vs. Brennan.

[Smokey©]

I think that once we have had an opportunity of a All-candidate meeting or more available information about the candidates, then a more honest opinion may be forthcoming. I am not leaning toward any candidate so far and believe that the negative attacks on clothing, place of residence, type of cars purchased have nothing to do with the position of mayor. A mayor is only one of 9 council members when it comes down to decisions. Based only on past community involvement, John Ruttan is way ahead, but based on experience of a political background then Diane Brennan is ahead.

Does a mayor need political experience to get elected? The current mayor of Parksville had no political experience before becoming mayor. Of course, she has about 51% of the voters as customers at the store she owns. There will be a minimum of 3 new councillors this election and if you look into the minds of the outspoken members here, the majority believe there will be many more.

[titan5]

Based only on past community involvement, John Ruttan is way ahead, but based on experience of a political background then Diane Brennan is ahead.

Does a mayor need political experience to get elected? The current mayor of Parksville had no political experience before becoming mayor. Of course, she has about 51% of the voters as customers at the store she owns. There will be a minimum of 3 new councillors this election and if you look into the minds of the outspoken members here, the majority believe there will be many more.

In my opinion the 4+ years John spent as board member of the Nanaimo Port Authority could be considered political experience. It was a City appointment to a Federal board, where for one or two terms he was the Chairman.

[Rickj]

In my opinion the 4+ years John spent as board member of the Nanaimo Port Authority could be considered political experience. It was a City appointment to a Federal board, where for one or two terms he was the Chairman.

Does anyone really know what a board member of the Port Authority does? or what experience is needed?

Yes I know what the purpose of them is but really a board member is a political appointment and in reality they are an overseer of the slush funds created from rental of space/port operations.

[Rickj]

Does a mayor need political experience to get elected? The current mayor of Parksville had no political experience before becoming mayor. Of course, she has about 51% of the voters as customers at the store she owns. There will be a minimum of 3 new councillors this election and if you look into the minds of the outspoken members here, the majority believe there will be many more.

Just because the Mayor of Parksville had no political experience does not mean she was necessarily a good choice. Lets see if she gets re-elected before we judge that.

[Evergreen]

As a campaign worker for Diane, I would like to add to the discussion. Her community and political experience is matched by a solid understanding of what it takes to run a small business. She grew up working in her family’s grocery store and worked in other family-run operations for several years. She has the support of many small businesses through her work on the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership. Arne Bercov, the union representative who put together the Harmac plan, is also endorsing her. He understands both sides of the equation – labour and business.

Her background gives her a clear understanding of the complex relationship between business and government, and how Mayor and Council must protect and advocate for the public interest. Public interest is the bottom line, and it is so much the better when it intersects with the interests of business. Nonetheless, Diane believes the people’s interests take precedence and a person without her background in public service might find that difficult to understand.

[riverrat]

Thanks Evergreen, for telling us who you are.

I also appreciate how your post focused on Diane herself - I lament that so many modern political statements representing candidacies are aimed to undermine the opponents' credibilities, rather than to build the credibility of the candidate being lauded.

If Diane can truly balance the needs of business and of public, with the public remembered as the most fundamental priority, then that would be wonderful for Nanaimo.

[titan5]

During John's time on the board of the Nanaimo Port Authority, John worked hard to obtain funds for the Port Theatre (hence its name Port Theatre).

I found this picture of John handing over the final payment of $1,000,000 ($1.0 Million) cheque to the City towards the Port Theatre.



On the Facebook group to Elect John Ruttan.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37751299448

[Rickj]

During John's time on the board of the Nanaimo Port Authority, John worked hard to obtain funds for the Port Theatre (hence its name Port Theatre).

I found this picture of John handing over the final payment of $1,000,000 ($1.0 Million) cheque to the City towards the Port Theatre.

This just reinforces my point. What does the Port Authority have to do with a theatre in town?

Its mandate on the Port Authority website is "to administer, control and manage the harbour, waters and foreshore".

Noting the mandate I believe that by taking funds and contributing them to places like the Port Theatre and the Conference Centre that the Port Authority and John Ruttan exceeded their mandate.