Who Is Eyeing Dick Harris’s Seat?
The clock is ticking on two major items on the political scene in this region. The first is the fact that a federal election is slowly creeping forward and the second of course is the local municipal election.
Dealing with the first matter, Dick Harris is very likely to toss in the towel before the next federal election. He won a hard fought battle to get the nomination and has been able to hang onto the seat for an extensive time. So who gets the nod ?
Well we should start off by saying who wants it. While she doesn't communicate with me, it is known in the community that Mayor Shari Green would like the position. She has been attending the federal conservative get togethers and according to sources has hinted she would like to take the next step. She has one major problem and that is the baggage that she will bring with her, and that alone is enough to take her out of the front row. The idea of suggesting that there would be savings of up to 10% in every department , won't fly , well that is unless it has yet another life, which is highly unlikely, and the money tree, save a few die hard supporters, will be much harder to come by than in the last civic run. Based on her popularity as of this moment she might want to re think a run for the Mayor, but then one year can be a life time in politics.
That leaves the number two "I'd like that Job". Lyn Hall. He has been more coy about how he is looking at the job. He also brings baggage. He was a hit on the School Board but that has not translated into stellar showing for him at the City Council table . He will have a hard time trying to convince the delegates that he has the ability to stand up and be counted . His showing at the council table hasn't put him in the winner's circle.
Cameron Stolz gave it a try in the northern riding and he should save the money that it would cost him for the nomination run and pay his property taxes because while his showing in Hill's old riding was poor, trying to get the nod in Harris's riding will be best described as dismal.
There are a few dark horses out there and some who have yet to begin to stir the pot . You will begin in the new few months to hear some of those voices.
On the Municipal side , if Shari Green decides to try for a second term and Brian Skakun , ( I never thought I'd say this ) decides to go head to head with her , she had better fill out her EI form.
As for the balance of the Council, we are beginning to hear more and more that they want to regain control of Council and the decisions of the city, So far it's been all talk, but with an election coming, who knows.
The troops are restless and if that mood prevails next year's civic election will be worth the watch.
I'm Meisner and that's one man's opinion.
Comments
Lyn Hall was a hit in the school board? Good grief; the guy was absolutely useless. The only reason he got voted to council was name recognition.
I totally agree with axman; he got in because of his name recognition.
I’ll concur on the Lyn Hall comments. But in the end, it won’t really matter who gets Dick Harris’s seat… the Conservatives have had that riding locked up for a long time and I can’t see that changing anytime soon.
axman. Are you saying that the people of School District 57 would elect an absolutely **useless** person to the School Board for 10 years?? If so it doesn’t say much for the voters of Prince George.
Posted by: Palopu on November 18 2013 8:35 AM
axman. Are you saying that the people of School District 57 would elect an absolutely **useless** person to the School Board for 10 years?? If so it doesn’t say much for the voters of Prince George.
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How many times was Kinsley elected? And how about the current mayor?
People vote the way they do for the strangest reasons, they seldom vote for the most competent candidate.
Too early to know for sure but I would not rule out the possibility of Hall taking a run at the Mayor’s seat, however I too am disappointed in his lack of leadership so far as a City Councillor. I agree with JohnnyBelt who ever replaces Harris in the federal conservative run will most likely win their seat. What about Federal Liberal Candidates? Dan Rogers, Shirley Bond? Don Zurowski?
If Skakun runs for Mayor, as he said he would, during the last civic election, he will win by a landslide. Stolz should give it up, he lost a lot of respect when deciding to default on his property taxes, as for the rest of council, I predict some will be replaced, however that depends on who the candidates are.
DNHey: “If Skakun runs for Mayor, as he said he would, during the last civic election, he will win by a landslide.”
I hope not, but I suspect you might be right if there are no other viable candidates. If you think council is a circus now, wait until Brian becomes Mayor.
Toronto has Rob Ford and PG’s answer should be Eugene Fetterly. Really, could Eugene be any worse than the China junket mayor we have at present. Eugene probably even pays his taxes on time not like a present city councillor.
Time for a little less status quo and a bit more input from people who live in the real world.
Skakun is the resident contrarian on council and would not do well as the leader unless he starts arguing with himself;) Despite that I am sure he would win if it was just him and Green.
If Shari does decide to run there will be a ABG(anybody but Green) movement, could even see Rodgers throwing his hat in the ring, improvement but not by much. Of those currently on council the only one IMO that could make the step is Garth Frizzell.
New blood might be the answer or even someone that has been out of the picture for a while….looking at you Don Zurowski.
Sarah Palin south?
Speaking from afar, I think Mayor Green is grossly in over her head as Mayor of PG, let alone as an MP. Heck, if I were to be so bold, I would predict that she may actually LOSE if she were to run for the Conservatives in PG, especially if the Libs or NDP put forth a candidate with a strong level of local support or recognition. I honestly don’t think the Conservatives are so inept that they would put a candidate like that forward. I know it’s pretty much a guaranteed seat but still . . .
As for the next mayor, yes, Fetterly could be worse IMHO. PG needs to get back to its senses and stop voting for people who make unrealistic promises or who proclaim to be able to solve complex problems with simple solutions. Really folks, just elect someone who:
1) Is honest with you
2) Who has a brain and knows how to use it
3) Presents a future vision of PG that you can support
4) Demonstrates strong leadership
Either Rogers or Zurowski would be 1,000 times better than what you have now.
If Zurowski runs for the nomination of MP position against Green, I doubt he would have a major battle to win in PG … do not know what communities south of us feel about the two.
I doubt any well known people would run for the conservatives or liberals…..
Then we have Bob Simpson. Don’t know what has become of him.
I held my nose and voted for Dan Rogers last election, but I am not sure he’d be doing much better or worse than Sheri Green, who at times seems over her head (I agree with you, NMG).
Fetterly? Not a chance. He’s way too ‘out there’ for most people.
I can’t see Zurowski coming back after he lost his last bid for mayor, but weirder things have happened. He was very sour grapes about the whole thing as I recall. I’m not sure how good of a Mayor he would be.
Skakun has a core following that will be with him no matter what. The only question is, how big is the core? He’s great for grabbing headlines and making a spectacle of himself, but that doesn’t necessarily make good Mayor meterial.
It will be an interesting election next time to be sure.
Speaking of Simpson, he still is telling it like it is …..
If the NDP were smart, they would get him to run as leader and elect him because that would give them a chance at winning.
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/11/13/bob-simpson-b-c-ndp-must-explain-to-voters-why-it-wants-to-govern
Thinking about Green in Ottawa- might not be that bad an idea for a few of reasons:
-She would fit right in as that town is full of people whose own opinions of themselves have no basis in reality.
-She can do far less damage to Prince George being a small fish in a big pool rather than the big fish in a small pool.
-Would have to really put on my thinking cap to think of any benefit to PG that is directly attributable to Dick Harris so could keep a seat warm in the house as good as him;)
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Fetterly is a joke
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Looks like the ndp can’t find a viable candidate to take over from Dix and have delayed the vote till September 2014, they might have to make whoever gets the short straw take the job.
As for the ndp leadership… I think their best bet now that Nathen Cullen has backed out would be David Eby, as he has proven he can beat Premier Clark in a safe liberal riding. I think if Bob Simpson ran against David Eby it would be a close leadership election, and if Simpson could be brought in as a side kick to Eby it would signal a renewed party under new leadership that is highly competent and would likely win the next provincial election.
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As for Green running for the Cariboo riding, I simply can not see how she would even win the nomination. I could however see how she would be appointed to the nomination by Harper for her strong ability to be a yes player for the Harper team. If it comes to a vote it will likely be a farmer of some sort in that riding.
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When it comes to the next municipal election I think the mayor position is Skakuns for the taking. If Skakun chooses not to run, then I could see Rogers or Zurowski making a strong come back after the last few tears of inept leadership.
If all we had was Sherri Green as a viable candidate, then I would consider putting my own name forward to bring back some honesty and respect for the democratic system, and in an effort to get the debt and taxes under control while building a livable city.
Things I would like to see from the next mayor include:
– At least half a dozen referendum questions on major city issues every municipal election, and a promise never to use the Alternate Approval Process to spent tax dollars. No PAC until it goes to a referendum.
– None union managers and supervisors to have their salaries reduced and fixed terms without severance if the contracts are not renewed. A greater reliance on front line workers sharing the responsibility of managing their departments.
– The elimination of IPG and its subsidy towards industry. The positive roles of IPG should be run from city hall directly by unionized employees under the direction and accountability of council directly.
– Elimination of the new water run off utility tax, and the setting up of a proper utility fund from existing property taxes.
– More maintenance of city properties, roads, utilities, parks, and landscapes.
– Elimination of all travel expenses for any politician or employee of the city.
– A greater advocacy to the provincial and federal government for them to fulfill their infrastructure needs. IE we can put street lighting on 10 km of Boundary Road and Willow Cale North, which may never see any development, but we can not get street lighting on the Hart Highway that services 20,000 people and has no side walk for pedestrians… and we can’t get a proper rail crossing in the Danson Industrial Site… and the federal government should be providing an Ospika overpass to the new developments in College Heights.
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All very important issues to the home owners and tax payers of PG, but sidelined so politicians can self reward their own pet projects, buying friends, and narcissism IMO.
a donkey can run for the conservatives and it will still win this riding
Good comments here.
My prediction is that the only councillors to remain will be Skakun, Frizzel, Krause, Hall and Koehler if he buys himself a seat again.
And that, my fellow citizens is the rub…who can afford to front 75 to a hundred grand on a campaign and not take cash from “investors”, all looking for an eventual payback?
Our electoral system is fraught for that very problem
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