Is the Penticton Herald biased in its political reporting?

[Jamesie]

"The five incumbents for sure. Helena, Jeanine, Gary Leaman (ran second for mayor in '08) and maybe Jason Cox."
I think definitely Jason Cox, as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, it seems like a natural next step, and I would think he knows the city, it's businesses, and the challenges we are faced with quite well.

I wonder... Jason is the president of the chamber of commerce. But what business does he actually represent. He is listed as J.Cox consulting, but what is that? I can find a J Cox consulting on-line, but that is for a Joanne Cox who does technical writing. I presume the two are not the same. Just curious whether he is using the Chamber predominantly to promote his fledgling political career (remember he wanted the Conservative nomination, but was not prepared enough to get his paperwork filed). Maybe he is a good candidate, but if you're running on a business platform as a business owner, it would be nice to know what your business is... just a request for some more info, before I get on the 'Cox for business' bandwagon.

[Julius Bloomfield]

the question of signs is another reality of our system, my signs went up today, I asked my sign volunteers to be respectful of location and try not to add to the mess, but the fact is that signs make a difference, especially to the non-incumbent. Perhaps we will one day adopt the rules of some countries where election signs are restricted to certain locations, other countries even restrict them to certain billboards put up specially for elections.
As for this forum, I find it useful for getting honest feedback. Most people I meet are very polite and do not question certain aspects of my campaign whereas here the anonymity allows us to be blunt, which is extremely valuable in a campaign. It would also be very useful after the campaign, so yes, I would continue to post here. As you can see I joined a couple of years ago but have never posted until now. I have been a frequent viewer on some threads and a constant viewer of castanet for news, only now have I decided to get involved in the posting and frankly I enjoy it.
Thanks for reading

I saw one of the latest signs (believe it was yours) on Calgary Ave today on a wooden power pole. I believe the rule is that they have to be on city property (or private if the landowner permits it) but NOT on power poles. This is highly discouraged even for yard sales and is illegal under city bylaw. Please inform the people working for your campaign of the rules re sign placement.

Thanks for the heads up, I personally went round and took down all the offending signs today. My over eager sign crew said they thought it was OK as they saw others doing it and one of them did sign duty on a previous election where it was done. My mistake, I should have made sure they were completely familiar with the sign by-law.

[clouseau]

"The five incumbents for sure. Helena, Jeanine, Gary Leaman (ran second for mayor in '08) and maybe Jason Cox."
I think definitely Jason Cox, as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, it seems like a natural next step, and I would think he knows the city, it's businesses, and the challenges we are faced with quite well.

I wonder... Jason is the president of the chamber of commerce. But what business does he actually represent. He is listed as J.Cox consulting, but what is that? I can find a J Cox consulting on-line, but that is for a Joanne Cox who does technical writing. I presume the two are not the same. Just curious whether he is using the Chamber predominantly to promote his fledgling political career (remember he wanted the Conservative nomination, but was not prepared enough to get his paperwork filed). Maybe he is a good candidate, but if you're running on a business platform as a business owner, it would be nice to know what your business is... just a request for some more info, before I get on the 'Cox for business' bandwagon.

Jamesie,

I completely agree with you. As far as I know, the “consulting” label is simply used for convenience to try to mask that in reality Jason Cox is unemployed. It was not exactly a best kept secret that he was let go from the Valley First Credit Union.

There is no shame in being unemployed, in fact it was refreshing to read the comments in the Herald from young Wes Hopkin who freely admits that he is currently looking for work. Meanwhile Cox promotes himself as a “businessman” . A term I am not buying.

[jasoncox]

I wonder... Jason is the president of the chamber of commerce. But what business does he actually represent. He is listed as J.Cox consulting, but what is that? I can find a J Cox consulting on-line, but that is for a Joanne Cox who does technical writing. I presume the two are not the same. Just curious whether he is using the Chamber predominantly to promote his fledgling political career (remember he wanted the Conservative nomination, but was not prepared enough to get his paperwork filed). Maybe he is a good candidate, but if you're running on a business platform as a business owner, it would be nice to know what your business is... just a request for some more info, before I get on the 'Cox for business' bandwagon.

Jamesie,

I completely agree with you. As far as I know, the “consulting” label is simply used for convenience to try to mask that in reality Jason Cox is unemployed. It was not exactly a best kept secret that he was let go from the Valley First Credit Union.

There is no shame in being unemployed, in fact it was refreshing to read the comments in the Herald from young Wes Hopkin who freely admits that he is currently looking for work. Meanwhile Cox promotes himself as a “businessman” . A term I am not buying.

Clouseau and Jamesie,

Thank you for your interest in the subject of my business but you are both way off base. I wasn't "let go" from Valley First Credit Union. I left there last December of my own choosing. I set up J. Cox Consulting shortly after. I am self-employed as a business consultant. I write business plans, I prepare financing proposals and I do management contracts. I am currently engaged in a large management contract. My business is very real and very active thank you.

Prior to my decade in commercial banking I was in business for myself as well, so yes I have earned the title business person and I wear it with pride. Rather than engage in innuendo and falsehoods, feel free to ask me directly. My contact information is readily available either on my campaign website www.ourpenticton.com or at the chamber website.

My involvement with the chamber is a volunteer position that I have enjoyed for 6 years. Being on the board and twice serving as President, I feel has given me in-depth knowledge of what is happening in this city from the locally owned businesses to city hall itself. I look forward to using all my experiences from self employment to commercial banking to being a community volunteer as a basis for helping to build a vision for Penticton.

Thank you again

JC

[XT225]

I saw one of the latest signs (believe it was yours) on Calgary Ave today on a wooden power pole. I believe the rule is that they have to be on city property (or private if the landowner permits it) but NOT on power poles. This is highly discouraged even for yard sales and is illegal under city bylaw. Please inform the people working for your campaign of the rules re sign placement.

Thank you Julius. Your attentiveness to the signage issue and openess in general, impresses me. I do not see either DA or KR on here (and I WAS thinking of strongly supporting Katie); however you bring a fresh new style to the table and I like that a lot. Won't take much more to win me over. I got over the living out of town situation and liked your explanation of why you aren't running in Naramata (due to real estate conflicts); thats nice to see honesty. I am not impressed at all with D.A.'s record, nor the Deer Hunter or Jack-A-bite, etc; time for big changes in city hall. Also, nice to see how you are winning people over; not by shooting arrows at the other candidates but rather by explaining your own views and platform. I like that a lot. Good for you. I would like to you to consider in promising one more thing, though. That if elected as mayor, you will not allow yourself to head up the RDOS board; this is a big issue with a lot of people and could win votes for you if you made that promise; seriously. I guess you could sit on that other board if nobody else wants to but NOT in the chair. I keep saying this (and its so true) that if Ashton is unseated from the mayors chair, he is automatically gone from the RDOS. Bonus!

Thanks for the heads up, I personally went round and took down all the offending signs today. My over eager sign crew said they thought it was OK as they saw others doing it and one of them did sign duty on a previous election where it was done. My mistake, I should have made sure they were completely familiar with the sign by-law.

[Jamesie]

Thank you for your interest in the subject of my business but you are both way off base. I wasn't "let go" from Valley First Credit Union. I left there last December of my own choosing. I set up J. Cox Consulting shortly after. I am self-employed as a business consultant. I write business plans, I prepare financing proposals and I do management contracts. I am currently engaged in a large management contract. My business is very real and very active thank you.

Prior to my decade in commercial banking I was in business for myself as well, so yes I have earned the title business person and I wear it with pride. Rather than engage in innuendo and falsehoods, feel free to ask me directly. My contact information is readily available either on my campaign website http://www.ourpenticton.com or at the chamber website.

My involvement with the chamber is a volunteer position that I have enjoyed for 6 years. Being on the board and twice serving as President, I feel has given me in-depth knowledge of what is happening in this city from the locally owned businesses to city hall itself. I look forward to using all my experiences from self employment to commercial banking to being a community volunteer as a basis for helping to build a vision for Penticton.

Thank you again

JC

Hey JC (gotta love those initials...) thanks for swinging by. Yes, as voters we are interested in your business, especially if you run on a business platform. To begin with, I must say it is pretty courageous to voluntarily leave a well-paying management position with pretty good fringe benefits (or so I'm told) at one of the very few stable organizations in town at the height of a recession that has hit the town and the region pretty hard.(Or is First Valley maybe not as secure as it once was after it got taken over by a Credit Union from Vancouver?). It is especially gutsy if you leave such a position to start a career in a business (management consulting) that typically suffers badly during economic downturns. Anyway, would love to read more about the business you started in January and its successes, what's its website?

[Jamesie]

I saw one of the latest signs (believe it was yours) on Calgary Ave today on a wooden power pole. I believe the rule is that they have to be on city property (or private if the landowner permits it) but NOT on power poles. This is highly discouraged even for yard sales and is illegal under city bylaw. Please inform the people working for your campaign of the rules re sign placement.

Thanks for the heads up, I personally went round and took down all the offending signs today. My over eager sign crew said they thought it was OK as they saw others doing it and one of them did sign duty on a previous election where it was done. My mistake, I should have made sure they were completely familiar with the sign by-law.

Saw one more on the corner of Atkinson and Industrial (heading east on Industrial) this evening. Doesn't really bother me, but I thought you might want to know.

[jasoncox]

Thank you for your interest in the subject of my business but you are both way off base. I wasn't "let go" from Valley First Credit Union. I left there last December of my own choosing. I set up J. Cox Consulting shortly after. I am self-employed as a business consultant. I write business plans, I prepare financing proposals and I do management contracts. I am currently engaged in a large management contract. My business is very real and very active thank you.

Prior to my decade in commercial banking I was in business for myself as well, so yes I have earned the title business person and I wear it with pride. Rather than engage in innuendo and falsehoods, feel free to ask me directly. My contact information is readily available either on my campaign website http://www.ourpenticton.com or at the chamber website.

My involvement with the chamber is a volunteer position that I have enjoyed for 6 years. Being on the board and twice serving as President, I feel has given me in-depth knowledge of what is happening in this city from the locally owned businesses to city hall itself. I look forward to using all my experiences from self employment to commercial banking to being a community volunteer as a basis for helping to build a vision for Penticton.

Thank you again

JC

Hey JC (gotta love those initials...) thanks for swinging by. Yes, as voters we are interested in your business, especially if you run on a business platform. To begin with, I must say it is pretty courageous to voluntarily leave a well-paying management position with pretty good fringe benefits (or so I'm told) at one of the very few stable organizations in town at the height of a recession that has hit the town and the region pretty hard.(Or is First Valley maybe not as secure as it once was after it got taken over by a Credit Union from Vancouver?). It is especially gutsy if you leave such a position to start a career in a business (management consulting) that typically suffers badly during economic downturns. Anyway, would love to read more about the business you started in January and its successes, what's its website?

Jamesie

I understand your interest. I won't go into the details about why I left Valley First as they are in some ways very personal. However, contrary to what you may think, a recession was exactly time to get into business consulting. During difficult times some businesses need even more help and advice than in economically robust times. I have found that since starting the company I have been very busy on word of mouth alone. I don't have a website yet. As soon as I do, I'll let the world know

Allbest
JC

[brentan]

Very Interesting dialogue here! I sense a little (well hard to say) going on here!
Not sure what to think now! Was kinda curios of JC's platform and was curios to see where he will go with it!
Really not sure now, but indeed like others, Id be curios of the concrete reasons, and not inuendos or comments like its private. I do understand that some things cannot be said, however I'm quite sure more information will be accessible!

[Captain77]

Is the Penticton Herald biased in it's political reporting? You bet. Why does the Herald not rotate the order of the mayoral candidates in their answers to 20 questions? And the editor says he's voting for only trustees who vote against "double dipping". (no mention of what's best for the education of students). Yes, the Herald is biased. Maybe it's time to join the legions who have cancelled their subscriptions. The Penticton Western is a much better and balanced read.

[fluffy]

Why does the Herald not rotate the order of the mayoral candidates in their answers to 20 questions?

They appear in alphabetical order. So, should we have them change their names or just re-write the alphabet? :127:

And the editor says he's voting for only trustees who vote against "double dipping".

Yes he did, but in an editorial, where expression of personal opinion is entirely acceptable.

[Captain77]

Fluffy, I realize that they are in alphabetical order, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to move the first to the end, and so on down the process 'till you begin at "A" again. The first printed response to the question has the advantage. So - I'm saying - spread that advantage around fairly.

[Captain77]

And not only does Miller have an editorial, but he also has an editorial column today. He takes up a lot of airtime on the editorial page. I guess it's his call. Does Miller print all letters to the editor? I've always wondered if there are people who have expressed opinions (differing from his own) that he has chosen not to print.

[MRO]

And I might add that some of the written questions submitted during public forums (where no floor microphone is allowed) never get asked even with plenty of time left. This has happened to more than one question, folks. Somehow, the last 75 feet between the location where one hands in the question(s) and the moderator's podium, are the most treacherous moments for those little pieces of paper...
MRO

[southy]

Well put Captain! Perhaps we need to invite Mr. Miller and perhaps Mr. Martin from the Herald to give us their take on these issues. Interesting how the media folks never show up here isn't it?