 |  |  |  |
Municipal Election Results
Submitted by Neil Blazevic on November 13, 2006 - 10:09pm.
tags:
Watch them come in, live...
http://www.lfpress.com/specialreports/election_live.html
Go Anne Marie, Gina, Joni and Judy!
Joe's out of work!
I don't recall off the top of my head who else we were rooting for.
No votes yet
Trackback URL for this post:
http://londoncommons.net/trackback/1600
- Neil Blazevic's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Search
Upcoming events
- Compassionate Communication Workshops(Event)(Now)
- Ableton Live Advanced Workshop.(Event)(18 hours)
- ZEITGEIST 2: Addendum(Event)(5 days)
- Disability Action Group - General Meeting(Event)(6 days)
- a planning meeting for a peaceful sleep-out to demand affordable housing (Sat, Feb7th)(Event)(6 days)
- The Secret in Your Eyes-iridology explained(Event)(7 days)
- Ron Leary + The CFL Sessions (was The Boy from ET)(Event)(7 days)
User login
Recent Images
Recent Blogs
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 180 guests online.
Recent comments
- lateness
5 hours 39 min ago - Someone should post this
17 hours 45 min ago - one more item
1 day 15 hours ago - Ohhh, that sounds like a
1 day 16 hours ago - superb!
2 days 19 hours ago - 2nd annual empowerment film festival
3 days 1 hour ago - some items I've had listed for a few months
3 days 6 hours ago - sounds good.
5 days 19 hours ago - Major
6 days 3 hours ago - coolio
1 week 17 hours ago
Random image
Poll
Who won the Leaders Debate?
Stephane Dion (Liberal Party)
0%
Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois)
14%
Stephen Harper (Conservative Party)
14%
Jack Layton (New Democratic Party)
57%
Elizabeth May (Green Party)
0%
There was no clear 'winner'
14%
Total votes: 7
Thoughts on Outcome
I wanted to reply last night but was too tired. I am obviously elated that Gina Barber - a staunch progressive - is now on Board of Control and damn near took Tom Gosnell's spot as Deputy Mayor. All of the progressive incumbents (Armstrong, Bryant, Bachelor, Eagle, and Winniger) got re-elected and moderate liberals such as Harold Usher and DeCicco-Best will be returning to City Hall. I was unaware that Walt Lonc could be considered "left," but apparently he is opposed to the rampant urban sprawl we're currently experiencing and so, hopefully, his vote will make a difference on development issues.
But I am thoroughly disappointed with the results in Wards 6 and 8, which I wrongly predicted would go to Stephen Turner and Monica Jarabek, respectively. Turner placed a commendable second and Jarabek lost to Paul Hubert by a few hundred votes. It is my understanding that both Nancy Branscombe (Ward 6) and Hubert (Ward 8) are liberal centrists, so these "new faces" will probably be bringing much of the "same old"to city council. A squandered opportunity indeed (for the voters, not the volunteers/candidates), but, such is the way of democracy.
In any case, the 8-9 progressives on City Council now only need 1 or 2 swing votes to push through progressive issues. It could be argued that the conservatives can do the same for their issues but, as many people on this site know, progressives tend to have a much bigger presence and are more vocal at city hall meetings than conservatives. There will be pressure on the candidates who squeaked into office (Hume, Hubert, Orser) to vote with the left at least some of the time.
Lonc & Orser
Check out Lonc's platform:
http://www.waltlonc.ca/issues.htm
Looks promising. Hope he follows through with working to "dismantle Board of Control" (point 1), looking "at development to see that it is responsible and impacting the environment minimally" (point 4), and "holding a monthly coffee get together" (point 7). His apparent support for neighbourhood associations (point 6) seems positive, but I don't know much about such associations.
There are also some progressive commitments in Orser's platform:
http://www.stephenorser.com
It would be great if he works toward "direct access to council" for "open democracy" (point 2 -- "accountability"), trying to have the Board of control "abolished" (point 6), and "reduc[ing] vehicular traffic (point 8). His environmental agenda (point 4) also seems positive (although weak). Apparently he chaired London's Advisory Committee on the Environment though (which is a voluntary committee at city hall), and that's a good sign (isn't it?).
Orser's approach to crime seems backward though.
We gotta hold them all -- everyone who was elected -- to the best of their commitments.
Whose government?
Our government!
Do I smell the beginnings of
Do I smell the beginnings of a London Commons city hall watch and accountability committee? Do I? I know the Council of Canadians has a city hall watch campaign... there needs to be some mechanism to ensure that a co-ordinated message is pressed on city council from the progressive community.
"Nanbran"
Don't let anyone forget that Branscombe foregrounded an environmental agenda during her campaign. It may be necessary to pressure her to follow through with these commitments.
From her website
(from the top of the "Nancy on the issues" page):
Protect and Enhance London’s Environment
London needs Councillors that understand that the environment is an important part of quality of life and prosperity
tree cover, parks and public paths – put the forest back in the Forest City•
Reducing urban sprawl through smart development and environmentally-focussed zoning and planning will lead to cleaner air and higher quality of life• Environmental protection is part of
responsible economic developmentScrutiny
Right on. I've been busy all day archiving as many of the candidate web sites as I can, before they disappear. That way I won't have to rely on memory over the next four years about what they stood for. Well worth the negligible cost of a blank CD-R.
Y'know I'll bet most, if not
Y'know I'll bet most, if not all candidates made some sort of tip of the hat to environmental issues... we should round them (the promises) all together and say "well if you all agree on this, turn it into policy"
copying ageda to "look better"
Thoguh I heard that she copied all the progressive agenda from Stephen Turner.
I don't know anything about
I don't know anything about Hubert, but I have a hard time accepting that Branscombe is a centrist-liberal. This seems to be the LFP's assessment and, as an organ of the right, it would make sense that the Freeps would want to "sanitize" her somewhat in an effort to ease her entry onto London Council.I have seen her behaviour in past elections and she suggests to me more of a Harper conservative. My expectation is that she will support right-wing interests and work to oppose progressive change. I believe her main motivation to run was to block a progressive candidate's election. In that she succeeded. We will watch her closely and we will see what she is actually about.
As for Orser, I believe he will be a thorn in the side of Council and act in the capacity of "loose cannon." How he ever got elected is beyond me. He must have gotten out the "bone-head" vote. Either that, or there were a lot of people willing to cast protest votes his way. Orser on council boggles the mind. I guess he'd better get his suit cleaned. Anyone want to buy a thriving junk business? :)
Gina, many, many congratulations. I know you will make honest men of them. If you can't no one can. As for Gos, well, maybe he is still deputy mayor, but who do you think DeCicco-Best will come to for support? Yep! You got it!
Kudos as well to all the progressive candidates who prevailed last night. Big money will not have it so easy from now on.
Cheers
Charles
NanBran
> I have a hard time accepting that Branscombe is a centrist-liberal.
I have to admit that I did a double-take when I read that also, Charles. But perhaps she's moderate at the local level. One can only hope.
Discouraging
Because I don't know anyone who actually supported Branscombe, I was admittedly going by Free Press commentary, heresay and a brief look through the candidates Branscombe donated to in the 2003 municipal election (all pro-development liberals and conservatives). Your comments suggest she is even more conservative than I thought. That is unfortunate.
I work and go to school in Ward 6 and it perplexes me how such a diverse, cultured ward could fail to elect a candidate as qualified and progressive as Turner. Visually, and from my own subjective perspective, the ward would appear to be one of Greens, Dippers, hippies and students. But the politics of the ward are obviously much deeper than that - it is possible that the old and new money of London North came out in droves to support Branscombe.
what little I know...
Branscombe is (was) the head of the provincial PC association, supports the conservatives, but so far as I have seen is a centrist within that establishment, although possibly only because of certain issues such as abortion. Her nomination indeed was supported to block Turner's success.
I had a short but strange meeting with Orser. He's been associated with the Liberals and Fontana, though dissociated himself at some point. He's opinionated and makes no qualms about it, but I think that he does see himself as someone who will listen to his constituents. At the end of our encounter he said, "I think I am going to get in with or without your support, but either way, come see me in my office and I'll be a councillor for you".
So for both these candidates, I think that much will depend on the relationship and presence of constiuents during their councilorship, which puts the future of this city squarely back on us, the citizen.
Betwixt Elections
> much will depend on the relationship and presence of constiuents
That's the bottom line, isn't it? Even the most ideological politician will give pause for reflection when sufficient numbers of their constituents make the effort to contact them and unequivocably state their position. How many times have I heard a councillor say, "well, I didn't get more than a handful of phone calls about it..."
Come election time it's remarkable the number of people who pop up as candidates, seemingly out of nowhere, because of a purported concern for their community. And then disappear after failing to get elected. So I'll be particularly interested to see how many continue to attend committee meetings, publicly express opinions, periodically canvass their wards, etc.
Mixed Results, but Better than Last Coucil
While it was not the big sweep we were hoping for (Branscome?!? Seriously?) I think that progressives have reason to be optimistic about our new municipal government. Barber has unseated one of the old boys, and came close to becoming deputy mayor. Fontana is gone forever, which is a big plus. Lonc unseated Chabhar, which will help shift the balance of power leftward.
There are also some big variables, such as Stephen Orser, who may be the key votes on a number of contentious issues.
We'll have to wait to see what happens.