Cambridge Election Talk

[Spokes]

New faces but no major reforms in local elections
December 28, 2009 | Jeff Outhit, Record Staff | http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/649378

WATERLOO REGION — You’ll see an earlier election date and you’ll see two city councils expand in the municipal campaign that launches Jan. 4.

But you won’t see the major reforms that a pro-reform lobby group was seeking.

Highlights of the 2010 municipal election:

It’s been moved ahead to Oct. 25, to escape miserable November weather. The term remains four years.

Kitchener is adding four councillors. Cambridge is adding two councillors. The total number of municipal politicians in the region will grow by six to 57.

Waterloo residents and some others will be asked by referendum if they want to continue fluoridating drinking water.

Pro-reform residents had called on politicians to merge some local councils in 2010, saying this would streamline municipal government. Their effort, launched in 2008, got little traction and politicians chose instead to tinker with the election.

“We’re disappointed but we’re not discouraged,” said Jim Erb, spokesperson for the group Citizens for Better Government. He said he hopes candidates make reform a municipal election issue.

Local mayors applaud the provincial government for advancing the election to the fourth Monday in October. It’s hoped this change will improve turnout.

“The date will probably make it more convenient for people,” said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, who has not decided whether to seek re-election.

The new date shortens the long municipal campaign by a few days, sets the election in potentially better weather, and gives local governments more time to prepare for the inauguration of new councils.

Cambridge council is expanding to nine members in the election. Kitchener council is expanding to 11. Proponents contend expansions will improve governance and spread the council workload around.

“It will allow for a wider diversity of opinion on council, and of course representation,” said Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig, who is seeking re-election. “I think that’s very good news for everybody.”

“You have a chance of having more representation and more views on a subject, so that’s a good thing from a democratic standpoint,” Zehr said.

Zehr expects the next Kitchener council will be mostly newcomers, as council opens up four new seats and some incumbents decline to see re-election.

Waterloo council is staying at eight members. Regional council is staying at 16, including seven mayors. Four townships are staying at five members each.

The municipal campaign formally launches Jan. 4, the first day candidates can register for office. They must register before they can raise money or spend it.

Zehr and Craig want local politicians to debate municipal reform during the next council term. Regional Chair Ken Seiling doubts reform will happen until provincial politicians signal their interest in shaping it.

“Clearly the province hasn’t shown an interest in touching municipal structures,” said Seiling, who has not announced if he will seek re-election.

Ontario has made changes to financing rules for the municipal election. The province will also require more accessible voting places.

[Spokes]

Candidates gear up for municipal elections
January 4, 2010 | Melinda Dalton, Record Staff | http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/650114

WATERLOO REGION — Municipal elections may still be months away, but the race is on already in several communities across Waterloo Region.

Monday marked the first official day candidates could register for the October elections in the three cities and the region.

First out of the gate in Waterloo was Mayor Brenda Halloran, who registered her bid for a second term.

Close behind was Waterloo Ward 6 Coun. Jan d’Ailly, who informally announced his intention to run for the mayor’s job in December, but officially registered Monday.

D’Ailly has served as the councillor for the city’s Central-Columbia neighbourhood since 2003.

Also stepping forward Monday in Waterloo was Coun. Diane Freeman, who will campaign to keep her spot as Ward 4 councillor, and Dr. Anne Crowe, a family physician, who will run for councillor in Ward 6.

Waterloo is the only city in the region where voters will elect the same number of council members as in the previous election.

Kitchener and Cambridge will expand their ward system and council tables to 10 and eight members respectively.

Community activist Scott Piatkowski announced early Monday morning he’ll be running for Kitchener’s Ward 8 seat, one of the city’s newly created wards which will include the Forest Hill, Victoria Hills and Westmount neighbourhoods. Piatkowski ran for the Ward 6 seat in the last municipal election and lost out to the incumbent, Christina Weylie.

He was the only person to file nomination paperwork in Kitchener on Monday.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr has not yet publicly announced if he’ll run again. In December, Zehr became the city’s longest serving mayor. He was first elected in 1997 and won his fourth consecutive election in 2006 with nearly 68 per cent of the vote.

In an email response Monday, Zehr suggested he won’t be rushing to a decision on any potential re-election campaign.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig and Ward 5 Coun. Pam Wolf formally submitted the paperwork needed to launch their campaigns Monday, as did Ward 1 candidate, Donna Reid.

Both Ward 5 and Ward 1 will look different following the fall election.

The southeastern portion of Ward 5, below St. Andrews Street, will be moved into Ward 6.

The boundaries of the current Ward 1 will be redrawn to include the portion of Hespeler north of the Speed River as well as a part of Preston.

Wolf, a former public school teacher, was a political newcomer in 2006 when she unseated the Ward 5 incumbent.

Reid, a retired teacher, ran and lost to the current Ward 1 councillor, Rick Cowsill, in the same election.

Regional Chair Ken Seiling has yet to make an announcement on whether he’ll run again for the position he’s held for 25 years.

Candidates in all three cities, the region and the townships have until Sept. 10 to register for the Oct. 25 election.

To run for municipal office, you must:

— Be 18 or older
— Live, own property or be the spouse or common-law partner of someone who owns property in the municipality
— Be legally allowed to vote
— Not be disqualified by legislation from holding office
— Pay the nomination filing fee of $100 for councillors and $200 for mayor or regional chair.

For more information on the nomination process, see the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s 2010 Municipal Election Guide at www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page5606.aspx, check your city’s website or contact the city clerk in your municipality.

[Spokes]

Craig faces challenger in Cambridge mayoral race

February 02, 2010
By Kevin Swayze, Record staff

CAMBRIDGE — There’s a race for mayor in Cambridge.

Three-term councillor Linda Whetham is running for the city’s top elected office against three-term incumbent Doug Craig.

“We need to take this city bask to basic issues,” said Whetham, who has represented the North Galt ward since 2000. “There is too much focus on the city paying for grandiose projects to please a small number of ambitious businessmen.”

Whetham registered Tuesday to run for mayor. Craig registered Jan. 4.

Whetham opposes the city’s $6 million contribution to a city-owned theatre that will be operated by Drayton Entertainment. Nor does she want the city spending any tax money to bring a travelling version of the Venice Biennale architecture show to the banks of the Grand River.

Whetham fears Cambridge is heading for more debt after 2010 to maintain basic city services, as the city runs out of money because of misplaced priorities.

“I would focus on building a couple swimming pools we need, a couple of recreation centres. We are the second largest city in the region and we don’t have a proper recreation centre.”

Seniors have been ignored in their desire for a bigger, better recreation centre, she said.

Whetham said she is “more than prepared to proactive and positive . . . approachable and compassionate to all the city’s people.”

When asked if that was criticism of Craig’s style, she said: “I’m not attacking the mayor. I don’t want to do that. I want it to be a nice, clean campaign. I’m more concerned about the tax dollars.”

Craig took his gloves off after hearing her campaign comments.

“Over the years she has simply voted against everything. In the 10 years she’s been on council she’s never brought anything of substance to the table.”

Whetham complains her growing ward gets few city services, but doesn’t do anything to try to remedy the problems, Craig said.

“She can’t even deal with her own ward. I don’t know how she’s going to run the whole city.”

Nor was Craig impressed with Whetham’s push to partner with Conestoga College by building a city recreation centre there.

“I made that suggestion months ago,” Craig said.

The city helped Conestoga by holding land along Highway 401 as it appreciated in value by $5 million, Craig said, then sold it to the college at the original purchase price for the expansion into Cambridge.

“If we were to take her idea of giving $5.7 million to Conestoga, we’d be raising taxes 10 per cent this year. We are already partners with Conestoga.”

Whetham said she wants to “break down the barriers” between Cambridge and Waterloo Regional government.

“I’m committed to keep Cambridge’s identity, but I want to work with the region,” she said. “I just think the mayor should get along up there.”

Whetham has never stood up for Cambridge’s autonomy, Craig said.

“She has no record on that. She’s never been to the region to make these comments.”

Whetham’s election website is: www.lindawhetham.com Craig’s website isn’t ready yet.

kswayze@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/666593

Things in Cambridge are going to get messy!
If this is what it's like on day one, I can't see this campaign being a positive one.

[mpd618]

“I’m committed to keep Cambridge’s identity, but I want to work with the region,” she said. “I just think the mayor should get along up there.”

I don't know her track record in Cambridge, but I'd sure like to see Cambridge working with the Region instead of on the constant reinforcement of its inferiority complex.

[Spokes]

I don't know her track record in Cambridge, but I'd sure like to see Cambridge working with the Region instead of on the constant reinforcement of its inferiority complex.

Yes exactly! But she doesn't seem to favour the big developments which kind of sucks.

[mpd618]

Yes exactly! But she doesn't seem to favour the big developments which kind of sucks.

Big developments -- malls, theatres, convention centres -- can be a costly distraction that don't deal with the underlying urban issues in an area. I'm not very familiar with specific projects in Cambridge, but I think her approach could be a good one.

[Spokes]

Big developments -- malls, theatres, convention centres -- can be a costly distraction that don't deal with the underlying urban issues in an area. I'm not very familiar with specific projects in Cambridge, but I think her approach could be a good one.

I think some involvement is good. I'd just hate to see a completely hands off approach. Will be interesting to see what her vision is, and what goals she has in mind.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Johnson brings ‘outside perspective’ to Cambridge mayor’s race
By Liz Monteiro, Record staff - March 13, 2010
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/683813

CAMBRIDGE – An independent Christian school trustee is running for mayor of Cambridge.

Andrew Johnson, 45, filed his nomination papers on Friday for the Oct. 25 election.

His campaign chair, Paul Castelli, said the city of Cambridge is at a crossroads and the next four years will be important for decisions related to the city’s transportation system, community planning and infrastructure.

“An outside perspective is wanted and needed,’’ Castelli said on Saturday. Johnson was not available for comment.

Johnson ran as a candidate for Ward 6 in Cambridge in 2006 but was unsuccessful. Johnson was elected to municipal council in Elora in 1988 and served as a public school trustee from 1997 to 2000 and a councillor in Wellington County from 2003 to 2006.

He currently represents parents as an independent Christian school trustee at the Cambridge Christian School on Myers Road. He is chair of the Board of Cambridge Christian School Society.

Castelli said Johnson is one of 12 trustees at the school which represents about 200 families. Johnson works as a SunLife financial advisor.

Castelli said Cambridge needs strong leadership. On transportation, Castelli said Johnson has “concerns with the present strategy. Roundabouts are a concern.’’

Waterloo regional council voted earlier this month to install 11 roundabouts on Franklin Boulevard at a cost of up to $53 million. Council said roundabouts were the best way to handle traffic growth and improve safety on the congested roadway. Construction of the first circles could begin in 2013.

Also running for mayor is three-term incumbent Doug Craig and Coun. Linda Whetham who represents the North Galt area of Cambridge since 2000.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Super-Stickied this thread so it will be easier to follow as we get closer to the election. 32 weeks to go. Is anyone here considering running for a position?

[Brenden]

So which one of our Wonderful Waterloo members is going to be running?

[Spokes]

Municipal election 2010: Ward boundaries no obstacle to candidates
Some will run in areas other than where they reside

August 03, 2010
By Melinda Dalton, Record staff

WATERLOO REGION — Whether voters are aware of it or not, many candidates registered for the upcoming municipal election are running in wards they do not call home.

In Cambridge, nearly half the 24 people running for a spot on the next city council live outside the ward they want to represent.

In Kitchener, seven out of 22 candidates registered are running outside their home ward.

There are no regulations stipulating where a candidate can run within a municipality in Ontario. To be eligible to be on the ballot, you have to prove you live or own land in the city and are legally allowed to vote.

Robert Williams, a retired political science professor from the University of Waterloo and municipal politics expert, said despite a widely held perception that a city councillor ought to live in the area they represent, it’s not necessarily a predictor of a successful or effective candidate.

“It can be done by people who live elsewhere but can persuade the community that they are a good choice and they’re a legitimate voice,” he said.

“It’s really about the candidate trying to sell himself or herself as an informed voice for some of the interests in the ward.”

Kitchener Coun. John Gazzola, who has represented Ward 3 since he was elected in a 2002 byelection, does not live in that ward. He is the only sitting councillor who does not live in the ward he represents. His first race for the Ward 3 seat pitted him against eight other candidates, only three of whom lived in the area.

In Gazzola’s case, Williams said, he sold himself as someone with a broad view of the interests of the municipality and a lot of experience, given his former position as the city’s chief administrative officer.

It proved successful and he’s been re-elected twice in that same ward.

In the 2006 election, seven out of 26 candidates in Kitchener ran outside of their wards of residence.

Len Carter was one of those seven. He lived in Ward 3 but mounted an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the Ward 2 council seat. He did so in part because he supported Gazzola and didn’t want to run against him.

“It was about who I wanted to see on council,” he said. “I didn’t run a huge campaign, but I wanted (incumbent Berry Vrbanovic) to know that there was some opposition there.”

Part of what could be contributing to this year’s ward-jumping could be the fact that the number of wards was expanded and each one now represents a smaller area, Williams said. Kitchener has moved from a six to 10 ward system, shifting around some of the dividing lines and splitting up some neighbourhoods that once shared representation. Cambridge is expanding from six to eight.

“People may not have found in the end that they live in the area that they were interested in in the past, so they may find that this doesn’t work as well as it would have with the smaller areas,” Williams said.

In Cambridge, 11 out of the 24 candidates registered are running out of their home ward. In Waterloo, all 13 candidates for ward councillor are running in the ward where they live.

Candidates have until September 10 to declare their candidacy. The municipal election takes place Oct. 25.

Where the candidates live:

CAMBRIDGE

WARD 1
Donna Reid – lives in Ward 1
Paulo Santos – lives in Ward 2
Barbara Bierman – lives in Ward 2
Sean McCafferty – lives in Ward 1
Steve Halicki – lives in Ward 3

WARD 2
Mark Fox – lives in Ward 2
Rick Cowsill – lives in Ward 2

WARD 3
Brian Santos – lives in Ward 4
Karl Kiefer – lives in Ward 3
Bev McDowell – lives in Ward 3
Mike Toffner – lives in Ward 4

WARD 4
Ben Tucci – lives in Ward 7
Jan Liggett – lives in Ward 4

Ward 5
Pam Wolf – lives in Ward 5
Rhonda MacDougall-Butcher – lives in Ward 4

Ward 6
Gary Price – lives in Ward 6
Thomas Vann – lives in Ward 1
Shannon Adshade – lives in Ward 6

Ward 7
Frank Curnew – lives in Ward 7
Frank Monterio – lives in Ward 3

Ward 8
Nicholas Ermeta – lives in Ward 8
Susan Galvao – lives in Ward 3
Bill Kirby – lives in Ward 5
Gail Moorhouse – lives in Ward 8

[DHLawrence]

Donna or Sean had better be interested in transit and urban development; I'm not going to vote for someone who doesn't actually represent my ward.

[Spokes]

Who's there?
570 News Aug 25, 2010 03:32:22 AM
http://www.570news.com/radio/570news...9--who-s-there

An analysis of events attended by municipal politicians shows some startling differences in the number of times each elected official turned up at a community event. It's no surprise that the mayors of Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo attend the most events on council but the number of events attended by different councillors can vary widely. The difference was most stark in Kitchener, where Councillor Berry Vrbanovic attended 114 community events last year, compared to just 6 attended by Councillor John Smola. Smola announced on Monday that he would be seeking a seat on regional council in the fall.

In Cambridge, Councillor Linda Whetham shows the most 2009 dates booked on her calendar with 132, while Councillor Rick Cowsill recorded 45 events attended but says the actual number was much higher.

In Waterloo, Councillor Jan d'Ailly attended 60 events in 2009 while Councillor Ian McLean attended 16.

Both Whetham and d'Ailly, who attended the most events as councillors in their respective cities, have entered the mayoral race in October.

Event attendance is not tracked for regional councillors although records show that Chair Ken Seiling attended more than 500 community events in 2009.

In providing the information, each municipality noted that tracking attendance is an inexact science that does not take into account events councillors attend without recording it in their calendars. There are also the issues of neighbourhood meetings and attendance at formal commitments such as boards that do not get captured in the data. And attendance can also be influenced by a councillor's role as deputy mayor or by personal circumstances that prevent them from attending scheduled events.

These theories are supported by Robert Williams, Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, and an expert in municipal affairs. "The dilemma becomes who's keeping track of it and what counts for it. (For example) does merely turning up for five minutes amount to the same thing as being there for a couple of hours? There are also different types of meetings that might be counted," Williams explains.

Still, Williams believes the record does show a certain level of engagement, no matter how rudimentary. And he thinks that accounting can provide information for voters preparing to mark a ballot this October. "Is this someone who has made the time and effort to go hear what's going on, to participate in what may be happening in a particular ward or a particular community centre or whatever it might be."

For people seeking office, possibly for the first time, Williams says this type of information can also serve as an indicator of what comes with the office. "Yes there are committees, yes there are liaison roles. But this is the other part of it, essentially being out there, interacting with the community."

Events attended by members of council in 2009 were as follows:
...
CAMBRIDGE
Mayor Doug Craig - 221
Councillor Linda Whetham - 132
Councillor Pam Wolf - 109
Councillor Gary Price - approx. 100
Councillor Karl Kiefer - 93
Councillor Ben Tucci - 50
Councillor Rick Cowsill - 45
...

[UrbanWaterloo]

Mike Devine & Joseph Gowing are now candidates in Ward 1. With seven people running, this is the most crowded single-victory race in the entire region.

Wendy Price, Manuel Da Silva & Camilla E. Gunnarson are now all running for the Separate School Trustee Positions.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Ward 1 is the most crowded race in the region. WARREN C. PINDER, JOHN COSMAN & GORD HOBBS have all entered making this a 10-person contest.

Ward 2: SANDRA HILL & VISARIO MOUSTAKAS are now running.

Ward 5: BRETT H. HAGEY is now a candidate.

There have been no acclamations in Cambridge. For a complete list of candidates, check out Post 1.

[DHLawrence]

For me Ward 1 is only a two or three-person contest; I refuse to vote for someone who doesn't live in my ward. That would be like voting for a mayor of Cambridge who lives in St Jacob's.

[cambridgecitizen]

I have to agree with you, i want a rep who knows exactly what is going on in my area. But in fairness to some of your candidates, they did not want to run against Rick cowsill is my ward 2, and since a lot of Ward 1 is in hespeler, they feel that they have a better chance in ward 1.
http://cambridgecitizen.ca

[pnijjar]

Some more candidate websites, courtesy of http://news.therecord.com/article/774006

Brett Hagey: http://www.hageycomputer.com/ (More specifically: http://www.hageycomputer.com/ward5/default.htm )

Pam Wolf: http://www.pamwolf.ca which forwards to http://www.cambridgenow.ca/cdps/cditem.cfm?nid=3559

Barbara Bierman: http://www.barbarabiermancampaign2010.blogspot.com/

It's unfortunate that so many candidates don't have websites.

[Shawn]

WINNER
DECLARED
LEADING

Mayor
Doug Craig: 11,230
Linda Whetham: 6727
Andrew Johnson: 5537

Ward 1
Donna Reid: 585
Paulo Santos: 51
Barbara Bierman: 140
Sean McCafferty: 132
Steve Halicki: 199
Mike Devine: 535
Joseph Gowing: 167
Warren Pinder: 91
John Cosman: 362
Gord Hobbs:432

Ward 2
Mark Fox: 225
Rick Cowsill: 1856
Sandra Hill: 876
Visario Moustakas: 217

Ward 3
Brian Santos: 564
Karl Kiefer: 1364
Bev McDowell: 210
Mike Toffner: 640

Ward 4
Ben Tucci: 1478
Jan Liggett: 1122

Ward 5
Pam Wolf: 2344
Rhonda MacDougall-Butcher: 426
Brett Hagey: 513

Ward 6
Gary Price: 1410
Thomas Vann: 1181
Shannon Adshade: 1013

Ward 7
Frank Curnew: 226
Frank Monteiro: 1241
Gary Berger: 519

Ward 8
Nicholas Ermeta: 1274
Susan Galvao: 724
Bill Kirby: 246
Gail Moorhouse: 736