Brennan or Ruttan?

[titan5]

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.

And yet everytime the City needs funds they come hat in hand to the Port, as Gary is demonstrating in this photo.

Port Theatre
Port of Nanaimo Centre
Sea Wall

But I digress, this is not a pro/anti Port thread. This post was to show Ruttan has previous board/political experience, liaising between the Fed's the Province and the City during his time on the Port and he worked to improve our City.

I encourage Diane or Gary to post a photo of themselves "giving" the City $1,000,000. In this photo, Gary is just taking it.
By all means RickJ, start a separate Port, no Port thread.

[queen of the waterfront]

I think you are right Rick. All that money becomes a political tool. lots of influence there.

[Rickj]

This post was to show Ruttan has previous board/political experience, liaising between the Fed's the Province and the City during his time on the Port and he worked to improve our City.

I encourage Diane or Gary to post a photo of themselves "giving" the City $1,000,000. In this photo, Gary is just taking it.
By all means RickJ, start a separate Port, no Port thread.

And my point is that as a member of the Port by giving money to the City the board members(including John Ruttan) in my opinion exceeded their mandate and as an unelected board who is responsible only to themselves basically I hardly view the role of Santa Claus as constituting "political experience".

[RelaxedIslander]

I don't see a position on a board for the Port Authority as "political experience". I see it as political posturing. The accountability that comes with real political experience like being on city council, MLA, MP etc. is where individuals learn how to coordinate budgets, projects, and deal with senior levels of government.

[titan5]

I don't see a position on a board for the Port Authority as "political experience". I see it as political posturing. The accountability that comes with real political experience like being on city council, MLA, MP etc. is where individuals learn how to coordinate budgets, projects, and deal with senior levels of government.

Funny enough former MLA Mike Hunter is now on the Port board and when he was appointed he stated he was looking forward to broadening his political experience and community service by serving on it.

And again I digress.

By all means start a Nanaimo Port Authority thread and take this conversation over there. I would be happy to participate.

[queen of the waterfront]

Me too.
i like thhis thread s well . most interesting.

[Rickj]

From his website

"Managing Growth Sustainably Within City Limits

I feel that managing Nanaimo's growth sustainably is something that requires ongoing public consultation with the city's taxpayers. Unfortunately, this has been happening less often under the current leadership. Many concerned taxpayers are being left out of the process, and the insightful suggestions that they make are often not afforded any consideration whatsoever. They should in fact be encouraged to step forward with their ideas and suggestions and be made aware that their concerns are heard, and in particular those desires supported by the majority of their neighbourhoods that meet the guidelines of the Official Community Plan, subject to regulatory restrictions and ensuring that the necessary funding is in place in the existing budget. "
What has John Ruttan said? What does anything he said have to do with Managing growth in a sustainable fashion? Absolutely nothing.

Interesting that he appears to put emphasis on desires that meet the OCP rather than having an OCP that meets those desires. Seems backwards to me.

He also said..

"But as much as possible, I will seek to broaden the tax base, so that we continue to create employment opportunities, deal effectively with homelessness and draw alternate tax revenues to our city. Keeping property tax increases in check will be one of my top priorities. "
Seems like it is echoing the Jerry Berry trial balloon launched earlier this year about creating new methods of taxation such as a tax on income.

Another quote

"Local Economy
It is time for Nanaimo to be more proactive in growing key business sectors such as tourism, arts and culture, construction and real estate development, retail, scientific and technical services, education, healthcare and financial services. "
I hate to say it... but isnt this what Gary K has been doing? Lets see... PON Centre- increase tourism... Port Theatre- Arts and Culture.. Construction.. all over the place... retail (Nanaimo is a mall looking for a city)... education (VIU).... I dont agree necessarily how Gary K has gone about it or even if I like what he has done but John Ruttan hasnt said how he would do it differently.

In fact everything on his website is so generic that he certainly can never be pinned down in the future to "you definitely said this"

Lastly.... I cant find anywhere on his website where he states he actually lives in Lantzville.... (not that there is anything wrong with that..)

[Smokey©]

You are absolutely correct Rickj, there appears to be no difference between John and Gary with the exception of increasing tax revenues, which all candidates are actually for, but John is the only one actually stating it directly.

[HenryHackett]

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.

I agree this election is between Ruttan and Brennan. Gary is a has-been and long past his "best before date". Ruttan is a proven business man and long time contributor to our City. Brennan has strong NDP ties and very socially minded.
For me I like Ruttan, he has proven himself, smart businessman and prepared to give back to our City in community service.

[Evergreen]

Diane Brennan has proven her commitment to our community, with more than 30 years of involvement since moving here in 1976. She has served two terms on City Council, and understands that sustainable social and economic development go hand-in-hand. Her extensive list of community activities include:

Crisis Centre - Board member
Nanaimo Youth Services Board - Vice Chair
Nanaimo Community Employment Society (now Community Futures) - Vice
Chair with Gino Sedola
Nanaimo Assessment and Referral - founding member, Vice Chair with Jerry Pink
Nanaimo School Board Trustee- Business Committee Chair
Nanaimo Affordable Housing - member
Nanaimo Foodshare - member
Salvation Army Kettle - volunteer
Raise a Reader - volunteer
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society - member
Nanaimo Women’s Centre - member
Departure Bay Neighbourhood Association - member
End Legislated Poverty drive to fund school lunches
Advisor to BC Association of Community Law Offices
Pro Bono Law BC - Board member
Law Foundation Legal Advocacy Training Advisory - committee member
and the list goes on.