Will the North Vancouver November Municipal elections at the Mayoral level be another snore fest? Darrell Mussatto and Richard Walton, mayors of the City and District of North Vancouver respectively, were unopposed in 2008. With two months to this years municipal elections will anyone step up to the plate? The two candidates who were going to challenge Richard Walton for his seat in 2008 both backed out at the last minute.
Even in West Vancouver it is slow so far. Former Coun. Vivian Vaughan has mused about a run for Mayor but, on further musing, likely will run for a council seat instead. Only Coun. Michael Smith seeks the office of Mayor with Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones leaving.
15 comments:
RW - DNV - a popular contender. Hard to imagine that he can be unseated by a challenger so acclaimation a strong possibility.
DM - CNV - ran an expensive campaign last time but still acclaimed. Union background and union campaign funding. Strong support by left-leaning Keating. Could be given a run for his money if a candidate independent of the unions comes forward.
WV - lots of media attention to the financial watchdogs which lends support to Vaughan giving it a shot. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see additional "restraint" types surface.
Re - CNV - candidates urgently required for both Mayor & Council- where are you all?
Re - WV - Mike Smith is the ultimate financial watchdog and a definite "restraint" type with lots of support
Re - DNV - candidate for Mayor urgently wanted if nothing else but for the sake of Democarcy in the community and to challenge Richard, raise, debate, the issues.
Rumour has it a retired North Shore Fire Chief is considering throwing his hat in the mayoralty race ring. That would make two FF's running in November KM for council in DNV...and ?? for mayor
FF's? KM? - these abbreviations mean what?
And as far as the fireman goes, that been the news for months but DNV counc. not mayor.
All three mayoral candidates are centrist for their respective communities. CNV more Left, West Van further to the right, DNV smack in the middle.
It would make a for a boring election with low voter turnout, but that doesn't mean that its undemocratic.
No not technically but, I would suppose it depends on whose side you're on. If you thought DNV could do better than Walton(depending on candidates) then that perspective changes. No opposition, discussion, or debate is hardly democratic.
John, it would only not be democratic if someone chose to run but wasn't allowed to. Just because people are happy enough with the status quo to not place a person in opposition to the sitting mayor does not mean that democracy is being denied.
Debate is better for the community.
And is it "happy with the status quo"or apathy with it?
What would happen if Richard dropped out? One of the councillors then?
Status quo, apathy, working hard trying to hang on to their job and thus too busy for municipal politics...
Not everyone has the time to worry about what's going on in council chambers.
Election by acclaimation or competition is entirely democratic.
I think that John is getting his preference for a competitive contest instead of election by acclaimation mixed up with each citizen's democratic right to stand or not stand for election.
Anonymous 6:08
Gobbldygoop
Anon 6:08, is written English over your head? Surely you can express your opinion on the topic being discussed without behaving like a child.
Actually that was directed at anon 7:24, not 6:08.
It would not bode well for DNV election if Mayor Walton goes uncontested again. It will mean three more years of crass mismanagement. This guy sways all over the place, and is much too concerned with pouring cash into his own Disneyland project in the woods.
It will mean a dismal turnout with the same old, same old sitting in their seats again. I will pick a fire fighter over this lacklustre bunch, any day!
Post a Comment