Brain Fart

[Trailblazer]

Not six months after spending $20K to become Nanaimo's replacement to Garry Korpans equally expensive attempt to become Mayor; John Ruttan has finally admitted to having a "brain fart".
Not the language I expected from John & not the language I think he would use to a dignitary such as the Governor General , Prime Minister or a visiting Queen or Pope!
But hey! it's good enough for Nanaimo-ites..
John came to his admittedly part time job with promises of openness,honesty,and to put his job as a travel agent aside whilst in office.
Alas; little or any of his promises have been lived up to.
Council is as secretive as ever & John has seemingly attempted to combine the benefits of his position with the benefits of his travel agency.
Being caught with your pants down & proclaiming 'brain fart" does not rectify a blatant attempt at furthering ones financial interests.
John has failed with the Millennium project ,failed with openness & failed in honesty; not a good start.
On the other hand after the $20K investment in becoming Mayor at a salary of $75K he is obviously a good business man.
One has to wonder. Will he complete his term as mayor or is he up to the job?

[fearthereds]

John actually spent over $30,000 this time and last time for a total of $60,000 plus to get what he says is a part time time job. The "part time" job of mayor pays over $70,000 plus $9,000 for RDN for a total of over $79,000 and 1/3 of that is tax exempt. Nice work if you can buy it.

[Blue]

John did make a mistake in using a photo of himself in advertising his company. Although it didn't actually say that John Ruttan, Mayor, endorsed the cruise, it could be seen as implying that from his position he was endorsing this.
John did not seek the Mayor's job for monetary gain, as the $79,000 is not a lot for a good businessman like John. Especially considering it's cost him close to $100,000 over the last two elections to gain the position. I did not support John's campaign, but I understand that he didn't run for election to make money...that just doesn't make sense.
John will not be able to change council/staff overnight. Transperancy will take months if not years, and it may not be possible with all of the senior staff and council holding on to old ways of thinking.

[HenryHackett]

John did make a mistake in using a photo of himself in advertising his company. Although it didn't actually say that John Ruttan, Mayor, endorsed the cruise, it could be seen as implying that from his position he was endorsing this.
John did not seek the Mayor's job for monetary gain, as the $79,000 is not a lot for a good businessman like John. Especially considering it's cost him close to $100,000 over the last two elections to gain the position. I did not support John's campaign, but I understand that he didn't run for election to make money...that just doesn't make sense.
John will not be able to change council/staff overnight. Transperancy will take months if not years, and it may not be possible with all of the senior staff and council holding on to old ways of thinking.

I like the fact that John admits he had a lapse in judgement for a change and not get arrogant and defensive like our former Mayor. I also don't think John is in this for the money, he currently owns 2 office buildings downtown that I know of and has operated several successful businesses. I don't for one moment think that John needs the extra money and very likely suspect that he honestly wants to give back to the city and people that have helped contribute to his success. I just hope that the next 2 1/2 years don't pass John by. To leave his mark he must move fast which may not be easy with 8 other votes on council potentially working against him.

[titan5]

John did make a mistake in using a photo of himself in advertising his company. Although it didn't actually say that John Ruttan, Mayor, endorsed the cruise, it could be seen as implying that from his position he was endorsing this.
John did not seek the Mayor's job for monetary gain, as the $79,000 is not a lot for a good businessman like John. Especially considering it's cost him close to $100,000 over the last two elections to gain the position. I did not support John's campaign, but I understand that he didn't run for election to make money...that just doesn't make sense.
John will not be able to change council/staff overnight. Transperancy will take months if not years, and it may not be possible with all of the senior staff and council holding on to old ways of thinking.

I am surprised at Bellaart writing that story and can only assume that his superior and pro Korpan boss Curt Duddy wanted it written cause Korpan could have eaten his own children (if he had any) then set his hair on fire while dancing on Frank Ney's grave and the Daily MIGHT have printed a story about Korpan's great new haircut.

With so many other important things needing to be taken care of I can't imagine why the Daily would want to see Ruttan wasting his time fighting these types of chicken **** fires. Maybe they are just pissed because he did not spend advertising dollars at the Daily like Korpan/McKinnon did.

Either way the Daily has moved closer to "National Inquirer" status.

[Trailblazer]

John will not be able to change council/staff overnight. Transperancy will take months if not years, and it may not be possible with all of the senior staff and council holding on to old ways of thinking.

With all the senior staff & Council ; no less!!
Are you suggesting that we should rely solely on John Ruttan?
Perhaps we should rid ourselves of all other Council members?
May I suggest a Dictatorship!
Let's go the whole hog and play "Hail to the Chief' (ala USA) when John blesses us with his appearance at a Council meeting.

[Blue]

Of course I'm not suggesting that we rely solely on John Ruttan, geez...
The sarcastic comments and tone don't provide any real substance or ideas to what John can do to change the culture of council/mayor. What do you suggest?...Besides a Dictatorship...

I would rather our Mayor be a successful businessman, than having someone leading the city with no understanding of business/marketing/budgets/etc.

[Trailblazer]

Of course I'm not suggesting that we rely solely on John Ruttan, geez...
The sarcastic comments and tone don't provide any real substance or ideas to what John can do to change the culture of council/mayor. What do you suggest?...Besides a Dictatorship...

I would rather our Mayor be a successful businessman, than having someone leading the city with no understanding of business/marketing/budgets/etc.

Frankly; you suck up too much.

[Blue]

Trailblazer, I enjoy your arguments and opinions here, but...

Frankly, you whine too much, frankly you are negative too often...

[Trailblazer]

Trailblazer, I enjoy your arguments and opinions here, but...

Frankly, you whine too much, frankly you are negative too often...

To be frank.
Until we realise that the status quot does not work & that the so called right vs left are two parties fighting for the same bone we will go no further.
And so,I believe it is with you & others on this website, that are like drunkards.
Until you & others realise that you are "drunk" you will never change or seek a different lifestyle; you will never go to AA !
The capitalist model & the socialist model is broke & ,in my opinion, cannot be fixed.
We need real change, perhaps a new Green economy is the answer(and what a good time to pursue it)
Sucking up to failed capitalists,of the worst kind, will not solve a thing it will only contribute more to our suffering & inevitable downfall.
It would seem!!! that you see a Nanaimo where Real Estate concerns ,Realtors & developers with a following of contractors is the way of the future; a future of infinite expansion.
I see a future of sustainable forestry ,fishing & Nanaimo as a possible rail hub for the Island . We did not get the "Hub City" designation by happenstance.
As with many others my heros are not Roger McKinnon,Korpan, or Tom Harris; people who's (sordid in my opinion) world is in a state of collapse.
We need others for inspiration that live for a healthier,happier ,ecologically cleaner world.