Civic Election - King's Town District All Candidates Meeting Report, October 30, 2006

[posting]

REPORT ON KING'S TOWN ALL CANDIDATES’ MEETING






HELD ON OCTOBER 30TH 2006 AT ARTILLERY PARK







by Kingston Electors,Volunteer Reporting Team




King's Town candidate Mark Potter must have been thankful the temperature at Artillery Park was turned down low as those in attendance at the candidate’s meeting were quick to turn up the heat.

But that was about the only thing that was on his side – that, and a couple of obvious plants from outside the district who lobbed softballs for him to hit, but for which nobody in attendance seemed impressed with in the least.

To be fair, it took a bit of courage for Mr. Potter to take time out of campaigning to attend this event hosted by the McBurney Park Neighbourhood Association. This, after all, is an association that is well organized and vocal in its opposition to various aspects of the LVEC and a group that Mr. Potter alienated well before announcing his intentions to run when he wrote a letter in the newspaper suggesting that the NIMBY’s should move if they don’t like the LVEC.

On the other hand, it was evident before the night even got under way that the left leaning Rob Hutchison was going to be the crowd favourite. The third candidate, Sean Molloy, wasn’t in attendance for reasons unknown at the time. He has since withdrawn from campaigning and will support Rob Hutchison. Well spoken, charismatic, on top of the issues that are of most concern to the Association, the night resembled more of a pep rally than a debate between candidates who were trying to woo undecided voters.

There were some sparks and mud slung, but it was Mr. Potter who left sullied. An “outsider” who doesn’t live in the district and an unabashed supporter of Rosen’s LVEC, it is unlikely that any of the 60+ people in attendance will be casting a vote his way. Judging from Mr. Potter’s body language, with his hands on hips as he responded to questions that were slung at him like arrows, there is little doubt that he was rethinking his decision to attend the event.


Please Note:

Reports on election events are provided by Kingston Electors to help further discussions and debate on municipal issues. The observations, comments or opinions expressed are those of the reporter and do not necessarily reflect those of Kingston Electors.

-- Kingston Electors

[DemocracyNow]

Monday's All Candidates Meeting was a black eye for all of us in attendance, for King's Town District and for the democratic process.

At best, it was a poorly moderated meeting. At worst, it was a coordinated campaign to show favour to one candidate. Some of the lowlights are as follows:

a) directing one of the candidates to go first in answering at least 4 successive questions thus giving the other candidate a significant edge in their reply.

b) allowing a number of audience members to be openly unruly and to freely shout out disruptive comments.

c) allowing audience members to make biased speeches favoring one candidate without asking a question of either candidate. In fact, at one point I thought we were at a Kingscourt-Strathcona Meeting when one person talked for minutes about Mr. Garrison and then started attacking one of the candidates.

d) allowing people to ask the same question multiple times of one candidate without blocking the question and advising the audience to refrain.

In the end the meeting accomplished little. If anything Mr. Potter impressed me with how he exhibited class and maintained professionalism while under attack from a handful of democratic bullys.

[Dogma]

I must agree with both of you that the all candidates meeting for Kingstons Town was more about a McBurney Park rally for their groups "cause" (and ofcourse THEIR preferred a candidate) with card carrying union leanings (like them) than a well balanced and democratic organized meeting.

I for one was disappointed in the immature and often rude condonment by the handful that did attend. And I also was wondering if this "group of parents" must be teaching their children the art of distrespectful behaviour. Hmmm I thought left leaners pride themselves to accept most people.

On the other hand - 60 odd people seemed to me a very small "club". To show up from the entire districts @ an all candidates meeting - just before the final election week seemed a rather trivial event.

I can only assume the other 3940 neighbours in the district - have no interest in such organised lude and distrspectful behaviour. Nor for their candidate? I doubt it I smell union fish frying!

Maybe they know something that we don't?

I suppose we will find out soon.

I for one will be supporting Potter (just for his courage to show up and professionalism in attendance), and I hope he tries to accept an apology The McBurney Association owes him for such a poorly orgaised all candidates meeting.

I am not so sure they will - even though they are the likely ones to spoil the Rosen party!