Sharon Shepherd - Mayoral Candidate

[FunkyBunch]

Voting for "Change" just because it's different than what you have isn't a good way to go about it.
I strongly dislike Sharon Shepherd as a Mayor. I am terrified that Kim might get elected just because she's not Shepherd.
After reading Kim's site and campaign statement and other comments she has made, I feel she could possibly be the worst choice for Mayor Kelowna has ever had.

[lashmore]

I have spoken to several people regarding the upcoming election. Nobody know's where to vote, we haven't received any information on poll's, advance poll's etc. Quite a few people didn't even know we had two mayoral candidate's. I therefore will not be voting, as I have no information, and yes, I could research, but......

[Fancy]

http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page955.aspx
You have access to a computer but can't look up above to City and go from there. That's sad. Try calling City Hall.

[friedemann]

As was stated, the mayor does not rule the city. The council member votes matter the most.
With that being said, it was not "just Mayor Shepherd" that made the decision on the "rabbits" and the waste of taxpayers money in eliminating the problem....council had to vote a majority on it too.
That scares me. They are all undeserving of their position. It is rabbits = rodent family =vermin. They are raised in hutch's for eating. (not only as pets). The fact that the council have wasted taxpayers money to put forth a "bylaw" against having un-neutered rabbits as pets is ridiculous.
Then the large amount of money given to eliminate the herd that is out there now. A couple of boxes of .22cal bullets does the job. That is gross you say? Yet think nothing of how beef is slaughtered as you munch on a burger.

From the beginning Sharon Shepherd and Sharon Simpson have had a feud.
So the attack on the covenant. I personally don't care, but wasting the taxpayers money appealing the courts decision when the courts said "No" is irresponsible. It is "my money" you are wasting.
Leave the covenant alone. Or eliminate it.
The times they are changing. Packing houses and the city of old is gone and that is progress. It is the way the fathers of Kelowna wanted the city to go - that is, move forward and don't go back. They didn't.


Just because an individual spends time in council does not necessarily make them a qualified candidate to be a mayor. Some just won't cut it. [again remember too, they are just the 'figurehead' of councils decisions]. They can make propositions-so too can any council member// but it has to be voted on.
So while the pickings are slim, my vote will be going for the other person. "S.S." proved herself to be nothing special and by taking the trip to Holland on our money to see if windmills would be something for Kelowna to have; really, do it on your own dime, not mine.
The only reason we have "heritage homes"or buildings is because the owner that occupied it was too poor(or too cheap) to tear it down(or burn it down) and upgrade to a newer model like the neighbors. So all it is, is an "old" building. Nothing more. Nuff said.

[uhrg]

*removed/Jo* I wonder where these "facts" come from? The usual suspects of false claims ("Sharon Shepherd and Sharon Simpson have had a feud since the beginning") and boldface lies ("She went to Holland to evaluate windmills") have reared their ugly heads in the political theatre. Luckily, I believe that the average person can see through the inconsistent "logic" of such arguments and maintain the critical ability to evaluate candidates based upon the truth of their records and actions - easily accessible with a little time and effort.

[GCLoulou]

vote Sharon...naaaaaaaah vote for Kim....maybe , do not vote at all... still we have to be good citizens. Finally I'll go to the poll leave a blank for mayor and choose 5 council members

[common sense]

Everyone should take the candidate survey on Castanet. answer the questions and see which candidate's you should vote for. My whole family did it and we are quite surprised at the result. A very good thing to do if you wish for your opinion and city direction to count.

[barrymor]

Please folks, accept the need to know sufficient about a subject before you make a decision. Council had to take the route of exploring the legality of the Simpson Covenant. The final legal reply left some concern. Hovever, our Mayor stood by her promise to investigate, prove the legalities, and stand by her promise to SUPPORT the Covenant. She also made a promise to me some years ago. That was to research the possibilities of highway 97 passageways through Kelowna. Now the Mayor is acting on her promise which Sharon Shepherd has not been able to do for the last three years. Powerful, negative propoganda has been present in City Hall regarding the elevation of highway 97 over Harvey Avenue, giving back this historic avenue and supporting streets to the control of City Hall. Presently, Victoria and Ottawa controls what happens to Harvey Avenue and supporting streets. I am pleased that, under Shepherd's guidance and new supportive councillors, we will see the required exploration of both the present second crossing idea and our more efficient and considerably less costly elevation of highway over Harvey avenue. 12 candidates have signed their names to:

FROM THE PEN OF SHARON SHEPHERD
"I do support the concept of a raised viaduct from the bridge to Gordon (?), potentially establishing Highway 97 above Harvey Avenue, being considered by all levels of government as an option to a second crossing. During the upcoming year Kelowna is embarking on its transportation planning for the 2030 Official Community Plan and it would be an appropriate time to have this review. All levels of government and the communities impacted should consider a comprehensive evaluation of this as an option that would consider the financial impact, environment and social impacts, and the economic advantages and disadvantages."

As Candidates for election as Kelowna City Councillors, we support this statement and request your vote. Signed: RULE-michelle; HODGE-charlie; FORSSTROM-gunnar; HLADY-jerry; REED-mathew; THOMPSON-mark; GEBHARD-gretchen; SIMONE-lisa; RAJABALLY-mo; RATHWELL-capt.jc; PENDHARKAR-murli; GRAHAM-mary.ann

I am Barry Patterson and invite you to correspond with me at [email protected]

[3 B's]

Know this woman personally for many many years.
Will not be voting for her, even though I know it is a throw vote not to.
Like her as a person, think she is way, way over her head as a Mayor.
Can not believe this position only garnered her and one other as choices.
To me this says people have given up and it will not surprise me to see that the turn out for the election follows the federal election and is the lowest recorded turn out ever.


NO VOTE FOR HER AND JUST MAYBE A BLANK X IN EITHER SQUARE FOR MAYOR

I read both "Mission Statements". Kim's was short, succinct and I believe, simply put what she intended to accomplish with open honest, above board government. Accountability is a biggie. The other gave me a headache. What a laundry list!! It was nearly impossible to finish reading it. That laundry list was simply there to attempt to "impress". Well it didn't impress me in the right way. We don't need a book about how long a person has been there. Maybe, just maybe, that has not impressed. Folks need to really give this mayoral and council vote some deep thought. After all, doesn't sound like from these boards, that people are very happy with things so why, not a change in everything and everyone???

[imber]

Honestly, do you people have nothing better to do than run people down? The city has grown and prospered under Sharon Shephard. You are quibbling over really small stuff, stop acting in a small town way because Kelowna is a big city now with real problems and concerns.
I think she has done a fantastic job and she should be able to continue with those efforts.
THINK about the years with Walter Grey and the rest of the Old Gray beards. The City of Kelowna is on the world stage and it needs to act like it and start looking like it, whether you like it or not.
Be positive and appreciative of everything we have here in the Okanagan. This is a very special place and to be able to work and live here is truely a blessing. I speak from experience and trust me stop whining we have it good here.
Imbi from Summerland

[barrymor]

Honestly, do you people have nothing better to do than run people down? The city has grown and prospered under Sharon Shephard. You are quibbling over really small stuff, stop acting in a small town way because Kelowna is a big city now with real problems and concerns.
I think she has done a fantastic job and she should be able to continue with those efforts.
THINK about the years with Walter Grey and the rest of the Old Gray beards. The City of Kelowna is on the world stage and it needs to act like it and start looking like it, whether you like it or not.
Be positive and appreciative of everything we have here in the Okanagan. This is a very special place and to be able to work and live here is truely a blessing. I speak from experience and trust me stop whining we have it good here.
Imbi from Summerland

well said Imbi. Even those people in Westbank are benefiting by the policies Kelowna has established under Mayor Sharon Shepherd.

[imber]

Thank you! I feel strongly that if we want to be armchair politicians then we need to get out there and participate in our community. I lived in Kelowna for over 15 years. It is something to have a small town mentality but what of it? I will re-phrase that to 'Kelowna Mentality'.

To me small town is helping one another, kindness to our fellow towns people, doing what needs to be done, finding the good in what is happening and positive grumbling that really does create change. Yes it sounds like a childish dream but it is possible.

I lived for over a year in a small farming community 45 minutes outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The community was very poor and people did not have a lot including in some instances running water.

BUT the kindness, generosity, neighbours helping without asking, getting things done and general lack of whining was ever so refreshing.

When I came home it was shocking to have clean plentiful water, fruit on the trees, jobs everywhere, and the warm weather. I simply could not grasp the inability for everyone to be kind to each other, and help out and not judge each other. This truely is paradise in the Okanagan.
People took pride in their jobs back there, even minimum wage jobs. I got back here and service and kindness was no longer.

The growth that Kelowna is experiencing should be embraced wisely. Allow larger density housing, including homeless shelters and low-income housing. That helps everyone. We only have so much farm land left. Let downtown continue to get fixed up with green areas include them all over the city. This is the time to do it right and have everything looking as it should. Look how attractive the Art Area is. Look how much better Bernard Avenue is. Not scary and dirty. Look how attractive Abbott Street is. Look at the improving view coming out of the airport onto the highway. Lets keep going. I like to drive around and see nice infrastructure. I want to feel pride when my multi-national family members come and visit. We are pretty limited on what to do to appeal to large city friends and family. The summer takes care of itself with beaches, lakes, beauty everywhere, all the wineries and what's left of the orchards. But the winter? Not everyone skis.

What's with no-one taking the bus? The ONLY nice thing about the road closure was the water taxi service. What a good idea. What a way to save greenhouse gases. What about a train that can go fast from one end of the Valley to the other so we can live and work where we choose instead of driving everywhere. The ferry service was wonderful. The service was efficient, the Captains were kind and professional. Then all the empty buses. How sad and wasteful. They were safe and fast, it reminded me of when I lived in Ottawa growing up, we took the bus everywhere. These are not new ideas. They work very well all over the world.

I try to explain the Okanagan to people but what I usually come up with is that it is: in a lot of ways still the 'wild west'.

I love being here and am happy to have the opportunity to live and work here. It is truly a blessing. I don't want to be anywhere else. We have it all here.

Mayor Shepherd and some of the councillors is trying to accomplish this, let them.

[3 B's]

I guess what you don't understand is that this not Ottawa or Toronto or any other huge ugly city in Canada. This WAS a beautiful and unique small city. Yes, some building had to occur. But I know for a fact that Kelowna was advertised all over Canada as "the place to live". Multiple thousands have moved in here. The Developers have had a hay day and the Mayor(S) and council have willingly rubber stamped it all. Look what we have now!! It does not even resemble the city that I knew for over 45 years. Yes, progess must take place but this has not been progess. This is terrible. I don't hardly recognize the area I have lived in for 45 years and besides that, the bulk of this mania has taken place in the last three years. As I have said many times on many boards and threads, this is out of control. Developers have had absolute carte blanche and it shows. In fact, you can not only see it, you can feel it. Try getting from downtown Kelowna to say Rutland for an errand one day in the mid afternoon. Plan on an hour of gridlock each way. This is NOT the city we all had or ever wanted. It's being destroyed and ruined at a dizziying pace. The stress one feels just trying to get from A to B is awful. And they are determined to "densify" the city???? HUH? Do not all these folks drive too? It's an unorganized beehive and the "leaders" are responsible for this. Unless there is a complete moratorium on this development craze, forget it. You may as well live in Toronto. We seem to have garnered all the things that go along with this "wonderful progress" you are referring to. To get a glimpse of the lake now will cost you anywhere from $800,00 to a `$1,000,000.00 dollars. Great progress. I'm so glad Imbri that you think this is wonderful. You clearly didn't know what we had before.

[3 B's]

Excuse me - Imber!

[Pookybear]

I guess what you don't understand is that this not Ottawa or Toronto or any other huge ugly city in Canada. This WAS a beautiful and unique small city. Yes, some building had to occur. But I know for a fact that Kelowna was advertised all over Canada as "the place to live". Multiple thousands have moved in here. The Developers have had a hay day and the Mayor(S) and council have willingly rubber stamped it all. Look what we have now!! It does not even resemble the city that I knew for over 45 years. Yes, progess must take place but this has not been progess. This is terrible. I don't hardly recognize the area I have lived in for 45 years and besides that, the bulk of this mania has taken place in the last three years. As I have said many times on many boards and threads, this is out of control. Developers have had absolute carte blanche and it shows. In fact, you can not only see it, you can feel it. Try getting from downtown Kelowna to say Rutland for an errand one day in the mid afternoon. Plan on an hour of gridlock each way. This is NOT the city we all had or ever wanted. It's being destroyed and ruined at a dizziying pace. The stress one feels just trying to get from A to B is awful. And they are determined to "densify" the city???? HUH? Do not all these folks drive too? It's an unorganized beehive and the "leaders" are responsible for this. Unless there is a complete moratorium on this development craze, forget it. You may as well live in Toronto. We seem to have garnered all the things that go along with this "wonderful progress" you are referring to. To get a glimpse of the lake now will cost you anywhere from $800,00 to a `$1,000,000.00 dollars. Great progress. I'm so glad Imbri that you think this is wonderful. You clearly didn't know what we had before.

So true! Our past two mayors and council have let developers run wild and destroy the beauty that Kelowna use to have. It's nice to see that so many people that have lived here for 5 minutes think it's great.
I always think Shepherd is playing games with the way she is represented. Like voting no on the rabbit situation and the Simpson Covenant. She is able to say she has voted no mean while fully knowing her development happy council is going to vote yes and everything goes through and she gets to look good. I don't trust her but don't want to vote for the other unknown choice either, therefor I may not be voting for a mayor this time around.