Interesting election campaign this time around in Kelowna

[kldt]

-We have more candidates than we can shake a stick at, or even begin to make informed decisions about.
-We have a candidate who doesn't live in Kelowna; can he even vote in the election?
-We have a candidate who has had numerous questionable business dealings in past, but feels he is qualified to run the daily and financial business of a major city like Kelowna. He ignores the bylaws of the city, but wants to hold the highest office in the city.
-We have a repackaged ex-mayor who hopes jokes and little anecdotes will get him back into office.
-We have an organization that is endorsing candidates. Probably none of which are sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing for them politically.
-We have an arrogant, pompous candidate that is so sure of his re-election, he hardly sees the need to campaign, or even be civil and feign interest in citizens who ask him questions.
-We have a candidate who wasn't employed and thought, what the heck!, for a $100 and 25 signatures he would have something to do for the next few weeks and who knows, it may get him a good job.
-We have young candidates, who while their ideals may make them think they are up for the task, have no idea about the real world when it comes to running a complex city.
-We have newcomers to the city who seem to think they have all the answers to problems that long time residents have struggled with for years.
-We have candidates for the mayor's seat that have never held office anywhere.
-We have a new world when it comes to campaigning. Facebook, Twitter, texting, email, instant messaging. All the candidates are online, connected, plugged in, but are the voters? What about the seniors or those who simply choose to not go the electronic way. Face to face, telephone, debates, forums, print, radio, TV, we have had many ways to contact our candidates. There is no reason not to be informed, or question any or all of the candidates.

It is high time that a city the size of Kelowna has some form of vetting for potential candidates for office.
On the plus side, maybe it has made the citizens of Kelowna sit up and take notice and hopefully get out and vote!

[hadassah32]

I would support raising the requirement for running for office to $2,000 and the support of 100 people. this has been an interesting campaign and I look forward to Sat. Night

[wilde]

There will always be groups in a civic election that want to keep their community the way is was, perhaps forever.
On the other hand, probably an equal number of folks want progress. While both groups have legitimate points of view that leaves a third big issue left out. This election has once again forgotten hundreds of everyday folks who live and pay taxes in Kelowna who just want a basically descent life with a few creature comfort. It's the need for a healthy community spirit.
We hear the phony rhetoric from incumbents about all those warm fuzzy things they stand for, but the track record says otherwise. The truth is a huge section of Kelowna is ignored and disrespected by the entire old city council. Even the mailing from city hall encouraging folks to vote missed being delivered out past the Airport.
We can't have a bus route to include us, snow removal or sanding is a joke and dangerous, street lighting, well, don't walk at night out here. This is an area which is home to many hundreds of good people who are ignored except that we pay taxes like everyone else. We don't look at pretty expensive murals and the green painted bike lines are humorous as we dare not try to even walk on the road right now.
Tomorrow, election day, would have us drive over 20 K just to vote and yet the pundits cry about voter apathy. You see, this is an area in which the average age is 70 or more and there are hundreds of us. Some of us don't have a drivers license anymore, some are seriously disabled and public transportation is a huge problem because there is none.
We know that the Unions in town are pouring money and workers into re electing the status-quo and against that power we will never be heard. What we did arrange was help from the lake-Country Senior society to let us use their bus for a donation of $5 each to take us in to vote. We know that our effort won't get us any basic city services we deserve, but it allowed us to know that in our small way we have fought back against the callous way we have been treated and ignored.
You see, we still carry some human dignity as we mover closer to the end of life. That dignity allows us to band together to help each other to live as best that we can.
We no longer have the time nor luxury to listen to the very disingenuous rhetoric from the current Council and Mayor. Living one more happy day is our biggest goal.
We wish the people of kelowna the best of luck in tomorrows election and hope that your city has a prosperous future.

[EdCase]

My overriding impression of this campaign is that this is the first time we've seen such negativity: I suppose it was inevitable given the success of attack-style campaigning in other elections. A number of candidates have spent their time telling us who and what is wrong without offering any real solutions of their own: Walter Gray is particularly guilty.

I also deplore the appearance of special influence groups such as FourChange.org using misinformation and innuendo to promote candidates that will serve their self-interests once they are elected. This US Tea Party style group is a real threat to our democratic traditions.

We've also seen candidates using social media to connect with a wider number of citizens: it will be interesting to see what impact this has on results and turnout.

While the number of candidates is a bit overwhelming, I do think we are seeing more young candidates who care passionately about making Kelowna a place our youth can thrive in: hopefully some of them get elected.

I have to say that I've been very disappointed by the level of debate on this forum. Much of it has been juvenile and a venting of spleen rather than informed and helpful.

This is a very important election for Kelowna, one that will set the tone for the next several years. Hopefully voters have taken the time to inform themselves and turn out to vote. As the saying goes, "We get the government we deserve."

[Takin it easy !]

My overriding impression of this campaign is that this is the first time we've seen such negativity: I suppose it was inevitable given the success of attack-style campaigning in other elections. A number of candidates have spent their time telling us who and what is wrong without offering any real solutions of their own: Walter Gray is particularly guilty.

I also deplore the appearance of special influence groups such as FourChange.org using misinformation and innuendo to promote candidates that will serve their self-interests once they are elected. This US Tea Party style group is a real threat to our democratic traditions.

We've also seen candidates using social media to connect with a wider number of citizens: it will be interesting to see what impact this has on results and turnout.

While the number of candidates is a bit overwhelming, I do think we are seeing more young candidates who care passionately about making Kelowna a place our youth can thrive in: hopefully some of them get elected.

I have to say that I've been very disappointed by the level of debate on this forum. Much of it has been juvenile and a venting of spleen rather than informed and helpful.

This is a very important election for Kelowna, one that will set the tone for the next several years. Hopefully voters have taken the time to inform themselves and turn out to vote. As the saying goes, "We get the government we deserve."

Well said Ed (not trying to be funny)

[Lady tehMa]

My overriding impression of this campaign is that this is the first time we've seen such negativity: I suppose it was inevitable given the success of attack-style campaigning in other elections. A number of candidates have spent their time telling us who and what is wrong without offering any real solutions of their own: Walter Gray is particularly guilty.

<snip>

I have to say that I've been very disappointed by the level of debate on this forum. Much of it has been juvenile and a venting of spleen rather than informed and helpful.

This is a very important election for Kelowna, one that will set the tone for the next several years. Hopefully voters have taken the time to inform themselves and turn out to vote. As the saying goes, "We get the government we deserve."

I agree in particular with the bolded sections, but I find that we can fairly equally paint supporters for both Gray and Shepherd with the same brush when it comes to that. Yes, it has been very disappointing to watch debate ignore facts and turn to name calling and smear campaigns (again, both sides guilty). The negativity has crept into other threads as well, and I have to say to those that attack that you do your candidate no favours with such shoddy behaviour.

There have been a few (very few) posters who have risen above this and attempt to present the facts without bias or engaging in hostility, to those I say "thank you for raising the bar".