Is there going to be a real election in October and not just a return of all seven incumbents.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

April 11th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Why now?

And why in the wilds of Aldershot?

MMW speaking Ap 11

Meed Ward announcing her running for the office of Mayor.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward announced today that she was going to run for the office of Mayor.

No surprise there – she has been working towards the job since her first successful run in ward 2 in 2010.

She said in an interview that she announced today so that anyone thinking of running for the ward 2 council seat would have some time to get their papers in order and be able to march into city hall on May 1st and file their nomination papers.

Michael Jones, a ward 2 resident, has said he would run for the seat just as soon as he was certain Meed Ward would not be running.

MMW and Leah Reynolds

Marianne Meed Ward and Leah Reynolds

Ward 1 and 2 school board trustee Leah Reynolds has been seen by some as the heir apparent for the city council seat. When asked recently what her plans were as a trustee Reynolds said she wasn’t prepared to make any comment at the time.

There is a third possible candidate that is keeping her powder dry – but the signs the Gazette is seeing suggest she will run.

There are two credible candidates for the ward 3 seat and a ‘wanna be’ that has run in at least four elections.

There are hints that incumbent John Taylor will resign.

Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison always has an eye open for an economic opportunity - sees a great one for the city: sell the golf course.

Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison

There is now a candidate ready to give ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison a good run for his money. Expect an announcement on that in a day or two.

No one yet in ward 5, a “possible” in ward 1.

Ken White has said he will run for the ward 6 seat against incumbent Blair Lancaster.

Will it be a different city council on the 23rd of October?

We thought it was going to be difference in 2014 and they all got re-elected, so we too will keep our powder dry.

Why announce in Aldershot?  Meed Ward claims an attachment to the community; her children went to elementary school in Aldershot and she said she felt that Clearview Street was a near perfect example of what is wrong with the changes that are taking place in the city.  The announcement was made on the street

There might also be some truth that she chose ward 1 to rub it in Rick Craven, the ward Councillor – no love lost between those two.

Salt with Pepper are the musings, reflections and opinions of the Gazette publisher.

Return to the Front page
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1 comment to Is there going to be a real election in October and not just a return of all seven incumbents.

  • George

    No Wonder No Comment!

    Quote from above article “trustee Reynolds said she wasn’t prepared to make any comment at the time.”

    I doubt HDSB Trustee Leah Reynolds would even entertain the thought of running for any political office in Burlington after her strong opposition to trustee Ms. Amy Collard’s noble attempts to save Robert Bateman high school from closure.

    Remember it was HDSB Trustees Reynolds and Grebenc who voted to close both Lester B Pearson high school and Robert Bateman high school. Trustee Papin also voted to close Robert Bateman high school.

    And wasn’t it Trustee Ms. Reynolds who was observed receiving email instructions during the HDSB Trustees meeting on how to oppose Trustee Collard who was trying to save Robert Bateman from closure.

    I doubt anyone with the knowledge of Trustee Reynolds’ performance regarding the closing of two Burlington high schools would vote to have her in any public office affecting the citizens of Burlington.

    No wonder no comment!