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| Dear diary | |
| Date | what happened today |
| Thursday 2nd November | Again a slack day for a break sneak a peek at this page, famous people's houses and the signs on their lawns. (here) On another topic the radio station the radio station CHUC ( i'll expect a donation for mentioning your station Don!!) is holding a 'pie contest' to raise money for the United Way. The way it works is that all candidates have the opportunity to go on the air for up to 15 mins to sell their apple pies. Now this is where the fun starts. How does one candidate make their pie sound better than the others and will the rich candidates buy thir way into publicity? For instance if the candidate with the largest campaign war chest or who has the richest friends raise a lot of money how will the unknown candidates feel? As well, I just have the fear that Billy M's auction might not be so attractive "Hi folks we have a pie from your hearty candidate Bill MacDonald bring it on in. Where is it Bill?" "Oh I got a bit hungry on the way over, but the pie dish is an antique: bid on that!" Will the good Liberal's pies be made of Red Delicious apples or will Dean McCaughey ask to bake a blueberry pie? Oh a good writer could have lots of fun with this scenario. |
| Wednesday 1st November | The day after Halloween
shows three smashed pumpkins (isn't that a name of a rock group?) and little
damage done to signs. Billy M's signs have taken more damage than the others,
hard to tell whether that was halloween damage or just sloppy maintenance.
I noticed that the big McCAughey sign at the five corners was missing this
morning, perhaps somebody had finally objected to the bad grammar "Elect
Dean McCaughey FOR Cobourg Council" mixing For and To is a grade eight
mistake. The grammarians amongst us have been demanding better syntax than
that displayed on this sign.
Spoke to a couple of candidates who having been pounding the doors pretty seriously. Reports indicate that the electorate is cranky, dislike intensely the present council and want Walmart. Don't worry folks this council will give you Walmart: next Monday. Those seeking re-election see this vote as the ticket to City Hall. So to all the defenders of the OP out there, who might have been encouraged by the week's delay (that was really only for appearance's sake) , the official plan is going to be sacrificed on the altar of the ballot. |
| Tuesday 31 | Halloween, I guess
the political ghosties came out last night at Council meeting. The issue
was as usual the secondary plan and its impact with the Walmart proposal
and the politicians reaction to the whole thing. Some politicians are treating
this application like the plague but last night was different. All of the
pols did not behave to form. With the exception of John Lindsay all wanted
to play to the crowd, that is defer the application and give the impression
that they have listened to the speakers. Last night was also different
in that the people in the audience were not all the usual suspects. In
fact they (some of the usual suspects) have learned that the only people
that council will listen to is lawyers and last night there were, count
them, 4 lawyers (four) in attendance. These fine speakers were enough to
dissuade the rumoured "I'm fed up with all this talk let's get on with
it because the people want it" speech that Bob Spooner was set to deliver.
Instead we got an acknowledgement that perhaps we should wait to see what
the Town's planning consultant can tell us what to do next week. We have
been down this road before, the last time Walmart appeared. Mr Delanty,
after listening to the masses turned to the staff and "Give me a report
about what just happened" The next week the report appears with the STAFF
recommendation that WalMart be approved and it was voted on, in the affirmative,
"Because we pay high priced people to tell us what to do!" ( a quote from
a councillor)
One thing was proved last night, if you are a citizen demanding answers (any answer will do) you will not get it, but if you are a lawyer it is far easier to be listened to. Anyway the Walmart situation is not over but will be done next week. The last act of this 'dead dog' council will be to seal the fate of Downtown! |
| Sunday 29 October | John Floyd has
been out banging on doors, and unless he is going where the others haven't
been or homeowners can't remember anybody memorable, he is finding that
he is out there by himself! Anyway John found himself at a door that was
open (it was sunny this morning) and the master of the house came up to
John and the lady of the house discussing things political, and said "I
hope, John, that when you get on Council you will learn to read!" He, the
master of the house, then pointed to a sign, obscured by the porch door,
that said "No pedlars or solicitors" It was probably the first time in
the campaign that John was left speechless!.
Only 14 days to go tomorrow. I hope everybody has their literature ready, the printers are really backed up now. |
| Saturday 28 October | Another sign watch, last week the signs were running in Delanty's favour 4:1(40/9). Well this week that has been reduced to 2:1 (52/28). Just remember that the route is from East to West and doesn't cover any side streets. The other point to notice now is that double signs are sprouting up just to confirm the supposition that a sign does not signify a vote. I had an interesting letter sent about this very subject ( here). A lot of sign damage and Chalovich seems to be taking most of it. Even a sign at Don Macklin's (chief sign putter-upper for JC) had his sign broken today. Yes it's official I am the NDP candidate in the election. Some people have muttered it's a sorry state we have when Ben Burd is the only recognisable name in the race. Well tough, I'm not going anywhere and the NDP is going to be in your face. But I will be glad to get any support you, the readers can give me and I promise that my signs will only add to the voters confusion. |
| Friday 27 October | Well it doesn't take long to discover that the priapic (look it up people) sign collector, referred to in yesterday's story, might turn out to be a farmer in Cramahe Township. Joan C received a phone call from Stu Oliver, Reeve of the Cramahe Twp, that he had found a number of large Chalovich signs in a barn. The owner of the barn told Stu that he "was keeping them in one place as he had found them 'around'" So it seems that signstealers can't hide. |
| Thursday 26 October | Managed to get a few minutes with John Duda, the mystery candidate. After a couple of questions I asked if he had his speech written for next week's ACM. He told me "He ws getting it back this morning, I didn't do it all, others have worked on it. SO he does have an organisation after all. I just hope the speech isn't written on the back of a menu from the Homelike Inn. |
| Wednesday 25 October | A lot of reports
about Mrs C's signs going down. At $56 a piece it works out to be expensive.
One sign was obviously not the work of walkby vandals (As the "sign that
never stands up" located on King and Burnham obviously is). This sign was
almost nailed to a wall and on posts one foot into the ground. It's ironic
isn't it that the opponents who steal signs then have to store them somewhere,
because we don't see them tossed aside, rather like the those alleged priapic
art owners who can only get their jollies by fondling great masters. Anyway
I should imagine that Chief Kay, if he reads this, should be getting right
on to it. After all Andy wouldn't let this go on in Mayberry! Of course
this is all a runup to Halloween. So I'm waiting for Mrs C's secret weapon
to be unleashed against these sign bandits -- midnight patrols by Mr Ryan
(No I didn't touch those Farren signs) O'Grady.
I'm still puzzled by the reports that the populace consider "Economic Development" to be the #1 issue (Cobourg Star 25 Oct. headline). Does anyone know what it is? Can any candidate explain how they will create jobs? and will any voter believe them if they did? All I know is that the public get worked up about things they can see. Wait and see in next week's ACM what topic is the big buzz. I still believe that the 'dirty cans' in the park and the price of stamps will do some candidates in. |
| Tuesday 24 October | Attended the candidate's meeting last night. All turned up except Duda. I feel sorry for Spooner having to spend all that money perhaps he should save it and campaign the Jack Heenan way ... rent a Winnebago, park it on the main street and offer free coffee to all. Just make sure he doesn't park in front of Diana's. Anyway back to the meeting, a full report here. Dean MacCaughey was either revealing a tory tendency (see the comments (here)) or a complete lack of class, after the meeting a nomination sheet for the local NDp candidate was being circulated to obtain the required 100 signatures. Many people of all political stripes were signing it. When asked Dean refused, "It's a democratic exercise Dean", "I know and I'm exercising mine!" A complete lack of class. This front runner may feel good in being a partisan but it just confirms my opinion gained over nine years as a council colleague, (and that opinion is better left unsaid) |
| Monday 23rd October | What an interesting
evening. First a trip to the Cobourg Council chambers and then I took in
an all candidates' meeting. Cobourg Council was met with a packed (standing
room only) chamber. The sight of so many voters unnerved them. The reason
for the crowd was that many people wanted to present a petition, signed
by 1499 (why couldn't they find that last person to round it off?) people
who want council to take action about the 'train whistles'. Any way a superb
case was presented by Doug Warling (of
stopthewhistlesincobourg.com). he and his committee had researched
the subject thoroughly, bound it all up in a portfolio and presented each
councillor with one to read. Guess what folks (perhaps the election had
something to do with this swift action) the request to draft a resolution
to start negotiations with the railroad blasted through that chamber like
the bullet train from Paris to Lyons. With nary a toot from anyone the
power of the people and some skilful timing by the organisors ensured that
Cobourg may yet be whistle free. A job well done. You can beat city hall
(but only in an election year!) We did have to put up with Spooner playing
the crowd like Esposito in front of the crease (that's a sports metaphor
for Spooner) who reminded everyone that last time around he was not in
favour of what the others did. Arnold McCurdy again demonstrated either
his disdain for the crowd or political stupidity by making a motion, that
no-one else would second, asking that the matter be deferred to the next
council, leaving him looking pretty silly in front of the crowd who rewarded
him with a round of boos.
Off to the all candidates meeting where I met a few nice folks and some candidates who are going to be an asset to the voters. Erin Brown (the school trustee acclaimed in Port Hope), a person who seems experienced and eager to get at it looked good to me. Now if Gerry Drage can join her on the school board we will have two fighters in our corner. Seems like the crowd still doesn't like the idea of amalgamation with Cobourg this year anymore than they did the last time around. I wonder who the voters will dislike after amalgamation takes place? I have noticed a number of places with signs for Delanty and Chalovich on the same lawn. I wonder when the Delanty forces will realise that some of their sign locations just belong to easygoing folks who don't really care if a sign goes on the lawn because they know who they are going to vote for. Still never mind any sign is still good publicity. As I told Forest Rowden tonight when he told me "At least I'm more legal then Dean Pepper was, when he first started out" (I think that refers to an urban myth about Dean renting a garage so that he could qualify to run in Cobourg) He was telling me off for mentioning a few days ago to you all that he doesn't live in the township anymore, "Forest don't complain unless they spell your name wrong!" Had another letter from Dan (here) |
| Sunday 22nd October | Received a letter
here
from some guy named Dan asking me who I like. Well Dan I will let people
know who I like two days before the election. An exciting day for the Cobourg
Liberals yesterday, Paul Macklin won the nomination but not without having
to change his underware a couple of times! Three counts and then only winning
by 34 votes pheeew. Now the shakeout can happen all the good Macklin workers
serve two masters, him and Joan? I hear the NDPers are nominating on Friday
night, the people of Cobourg might yet get to see BURD election signs in
this season. Be funny if that crimps the style of the Mayoralty race, some
people might even think that we have more candidates for the Mayor's race.
John Floyd tells me he is getting bashed around in the sign race, he is
even thinking that perhaps the police are being a little lax and unwatchful
(I made that word up!).
How many candidates are going to burn the midnight oil for the second real all candidates meeting on tuesday. For those who haven't started yet it should take an hour to draft the three minute speech. All candidates should be at the council chambers tomorrow to see if the train whistle issue is going to be an election issue. This 'dead dog' council will be presented with a 1400 name petition about the whistles. My bet is that they will swiftly make a motion to start negotiations with the railroads. Just think if they had done that three years ago none of this display of acitivism by citizens would ever had to happen.Next week the 'dead dog' council will be dealing with a secondary plan amendment to give Walmart 10 more acres, I bet they won't defer that one! Received an answer from MayorJoan's people about Don Conway's challenge here you draw your own conclusions. |
| Saturday 21st October | Missed a day yesterday
as I had to get some real work done. But, I did see more sign damage in
my travels.
I did receive an email from Don Conway here who wants the candidates to talk about the absence of a new arena in the Parks and Rec Master plan. He feels that the town needs one and wants know the opinions of the candidates. So folks if you are reading this and have an opinion about a new arena email me and I'll publish it on the 'issues' page/ Now on to today. The sign spotting trail..a good week for the Delanty forces outnumbering Chalovich by 4 to 1. Just caught up on the respective mayoralty websites. Joan's is more current than usual, only a day behind and Peter is issuing the usual weekly blurb. But I wish his webmaster wasn't such a bad catholic; the sins of omission will get you every time. This time it may be picking a nit but when one is told that "here is the second edition of people wanting to tell the world (we are on the internet) what a great guy peter is" You shouldn't make the first list bigger by adding three more to the top and giving the impression that more people are now saying nice things. It is only a nit and few people read his blurb as regularly as me, so maybe it is only me that has noticed! |
| Thursday 19th October | How's this for a candidate's opening salvo "Mr. Thomey said he decided to run because he felt he had more to offer the citizens of both Port Hope and Hope Township than his rivals. “I looked at the other candidates (for mayor) and I didn't see anything there that impressed me,” he said. “So I decided to file.” This was a similar to a quote used by Gil Brocanier when he decided to be a candidate in 1985, in Cobourg. Something to do with ego? Or just a faith in capability. As Casey Stengel said "If you can do it it ain't bragging!" |
| Wednesday 18 October | Eat your heart out John Russell, Peter came to my house tonight. Conducted one of those "scientific polls" today and when I asked the person If I could quote him he said "Only if you mention John's Barber's Shop on King St." So this poll is the second barbers' shop election poll. The results are the same as the first: the race for Mayor appears to be too close to call. Although when I mentioned this fact to Peter (when he came to my house) he said that he has done his own polling and his results are better than that. I hope his polls just didn't ask about name recognition and voters' intentions because the barbers' poll (from John's Barber's Shop on King St.) also mentioned that whilst people want change they are not convinced that the prospect of just changing one person for another is good enough to make them switch. People want policies and those policies have to distinguishable from each other. Today I heard moaning from both the camps (mayoral) that the organisers of the all candidates meeting next week might not be treating them fairly. Keep it up ladies you have managed to annoy both sides at the same time with the same complaint. You have done a good job of being fair! |
| Tuesday 17 October | A story from Hamilton
Twp today. Mr Forest Rowden, the candidate for Deputy Reeve, whilst on
the ballot in HT actually lives in Cobourg. He does pay taxes on a lot
too small to build on and therefore is a qualified candidate. This fact
apparently infuriated some taxpayers and there was a rush to file to run
against him. Shirly Bean is Forest's nominated opponent, beating her son
Howard McCourt in the race to file.
The Delanty signs are starting to appear. Interesting the colours that the candidates are using: blue for tory Dean, red for liberal Joan and which green is it Peter, the Alliance or the NDP, light green or dark? |
| Monday 16 October | A snippet of an
email I received today ".I will keep writing odds and ends..like you I
am doing inventory of signs and who might have the edge...my grandson thought
that the Dean McCaughey signs were wearing condoms! I'll never look at
Dean with the same eyes...again!
Also, does the Board not have a policy for "convicted" citizens not being entitled to hold public positions, or the propriety of that person to look after the public purse? Gordon Gilchrist was definitely CONVICTED of FRAUD...tax evasion! involving his Canadian Tire Franchise in Toronto....cannot this guy take a hint? Northumberland is starting to look like "crooksville" The Delanty signs have started to appear. John FLoyd tells me that he has had two signs stolen and five damaged and as a result he has forged an alliance with most other candidates to cover each other's backs. "I'll put your signs back up if you put my signs back" I didn't hear this from Bob Spooner but I can believe it: he is some ticked that somebody has come out oppose him. I guess he believes in coronations. Don't knock this Duda guy Bob just remember that the last guy from Kelly's to run as a candidate: Tex Davis, made quite an impression when he ran "If you don't want secret meetings don't close the door!" Took the dog for her normal walk this morning amid a spot of rain and passed two "Dean" signs sheathed in plastic. Hmmmm, somebody in the camp doesn't know vinyl is waterproof or the ink perhaps isn't? Anyway those signs don't need condoms they need sunscreen (to protect the vinyl from the UV)! Haven't seen any Delanty signs yet, supposition is that they [the signs] are not back from the printers yet or they [the campaign] are afraid of the Halloween 'ghosties' |
| Sunday 15 October | Well I suppose most of the early signs will be up today, for a commentary on some of the signs I saw yesterday click here. The local vandals hit some of the signs last night check here for a pictorial report. The sign page is part of the continuing body of work I am putting together for potential candidates (in any election and is intended to be timeless), it is continually under construction at my pace so don't expect ot to be complete. |
| Saturday the 14th | 11 am
Just returned from a sign spotting ride through Cobourg. To be consistent the route will stay the same, East End to the West End (Hamilton Ave/Abbott Blvd/King St/Westwood Drive). Anyway the first sign was a Dean sign on Lakeshore Rd. Next a double Joan sign on King St. and then three more Dean signs in Westwood. Now don't get in a huff because I didn't spot your signs, perhaps your crews were still in bed. I will track this route weekly and report the results. Anyway congratulations Dean your experience is showing!! Read in today's paper that Bob Spooner's free ride is over an opponent has surfaced. And another old hack (if you're being nasty or an old war-horse if you are being respectful) Gordon Gilchrist has signed up to be a school trustee. Well Gordon I own the ink on this page and it's payback time for those letters you published in the "Community Press" last month don't expect any compliments from me about your campaign I just wish you would go away!! At least in the school board race we can expect the two solitudes of political visions: Drage's and Gilchrist's (old against young, progressive against dinosaur and parent and great-grandparent) 7.30am They're Off. The first day of the real campaign. SIgns can be placed today, now we will see the real planners at work. I'll be doing a sign count today and declaring a first day winner. Usual rules: points for most signs multiplied by the status of the owner. For instance if there is a sign on a Cobourg "mover and shaker's" house and we all know who they are (don't we) that gets more total points than a sign on the road allowance. Had a phone call from Ann MacDonald last night to tell me that she had put her papers in, I bet they were dog-eared and rumpled -- she took them out weeks ago! |
| Friday the 13th | 6pm
Nominations closed, I must admit that I did look wistfully at my watch at 4.15 and think that I had time to register but I thought all the nominees should fight it out without me this year. Let the games begin. The Butchers have become Butcharts, that's good now we all know who we are talking about! 9.30 am Unlucky for some! Especially the scriptwriter of peterdelanty.com, it's up this morning as usual but in one segment Peter congratulates the Butchers for opening their new Home Hardware store. I think the Butchart's own that place, at least that is Dave's last name! Enough said about fact checking!! Dean Pepper announced today that he would not be a candidate, claiming that his success on council is getting a whole bunch of roads paved I wonder what we pay the Engineer for! |
| Thursday 12th October | Talk on the street
is that the Mayoralty race is too close to call (even the pundit of pundits
a certain dry cleaner admits that). I was having my haircut and the keen
observers of public opinion and owners of trim scissors admit that. I guess
that the next sign (sic) of a lead will be the sign war that will erupt
Saturday morning.
Some hard news for the fact lovers: we have a candidate for the public school board a Mr. Gerry Drage. Read why he wants to be on council here. Finally a candidate with some burning issues driving him (he wants to restore the cuts in the classroom!!) Also another guy from the political past Lloyd Williams registered as a a candidate for council, I can't get a hold of him to ask why he wants to be on council yet but I guess he wants some more years to his long service medal. It doesn't hurt to be reminded what has gone in the last thirty years and Lloyd will tell you (again and again and again!). Whilst editing and publishing Steven McCahon's email to me (email here) I realised a candidate with a package of good ideas has turned up. In fact after talking to Gerry Drage it struck me that two good candidates have turned up. It's a pity nobody has heard of them yet, but they will. The burning question now is ....will "Pep" (Dean Pepper) file today or tomorrow? |
| Tuesday 10th October | Heard of a couple more candidates. At last a rumour of a name for the school board ... Gord Ley, just what we need a beancounter for the board. Another name for Council Steve McCahon. I am also told that the St Michaels Parish newsletter or other regular literature contains an advertisement for the Catholic School Board Trustees job! Tie that to the fact that as of 12 noon Tuesday (today) that nobody has signed up for the Public Board's vacancy either and you get a good feel for the damage done to the school system by "Slasher Mike and the Barbarians at Queen's Park" "You can fool people some of the time etc." Mr Harris but they finally see through most things in the end. |
| Monday 9th October | Last week of nominations, I wonder if we will have any more potential council members? I think we need somebody who admits that they nothing about economic development (let's face it if economic development was that easy it would have been done already!!) and actually has a plan to help out the downtown Received a letter from a George Smith who questioned everybody's credibility read it here. I am assembling all letters no separate page (here) The page will only work if we get letters SO WRITE TO ME!! My policy will be to publish all. If the substance turns out to be false It will be noted as such. We don't believe in censorship and this is the Internet! |
| Sunday 8th October | A very quiet weekend although my mother told me that she received a campaign leaflet from Joanne Heipel, it was slipped under her door. Bang on the door next time Joanne you have to talk to voters not just slip them something! |
| Friday 6th October (2pm) | 4.25 pm I have
been informed that peterdelanty.com
is now over the glitch and we can see what peter has been up to this week.
Also I have been informed that Peter was not the person who had been shouted
at for campaigning during Justin T's eulogy. Well that means that i will
have to slap the informant around and apologise to Peter for creating an
erroneous impression shame on all you anonymous tipsters ... get it right!!
Thank you Peter for putting me right. At least one of your people is monitoring
this site, that's great. I have at least one steady reader.
2 pm Spoke with Marg Grundy and asked her why she wants to be on Council answers here. already and I'm still waiting for the latest edition of Peter's newsletter. I have changed the font so that the majority of you can see that I am writing this by hand. That's a joke because I suspect that most of you don't have the font called Bradley Hand installed. Anyway when I designed this page I thought it would be neat if i used a script font. If it works you will se it if it doesn't take my word for it the font looks as though I am handwriting this. |
| Wednesday 4th October | Another candidate
on the board, Marg Grundy. Marg ran last time and did not get elected,
maybe with the urge for new people she'll make it this time but with an
identical platform to all the others (Economic Development, Downtown revitalisation
yaddah yadah) she'll either have to have more friends than the others or
an interesting message! Went to Hope Twp on business last night and had
a few minutes to kill so I watched the council in action, like watching
paint dry. However after the meeting i was talking to a few folks and discovered
one reason for the amalgamation going so smoothly. Some people actually
believe that they are creating the biggest municipality in the County.
"We are number one and Cobourg will not be telling us what to do anymore!"
This statement came from a little man with a big moustache (John Bickle)
must be a Napoleon Complex.
<snip>this was a story about a candidate who says that the story that was in this space was not true; so I removed it<snip> |
| Tuesday 2nd October | Attended the Port Hope Council meeting last night to speak to them about the "Don't Endorse It! Donate It!" campaign. Ran into a whole bunch of old friends and nice people. The same situation there as in Cobourg, people are not beating the doors down to run for Council. Chris Conti, a person who ran last time was there taking notes, he told me that he will be candidate. Aldo Agostino announced his bid for re-election. I hear through the grapevine that there WILL be an OMB appeal about the WalMart decision. That means councillors will now have to study hard just to keep up with the arguments. THIS IS NOT A SHOPPING DECISION, THIS IS A PLANNING DECISION. |
| Monday 1st October | Received an email from little Johnny Russell, claiming credit for the increase in hits to this site as as a result of his plug on the 'wireless'. Keep it up John we need all the visits we can get. If you haven't noticed I put up an image of the stats for the last week, it's at the bottom of the index page. I still can't get over the five hits at 2 in the morning on Sunday. I hope it [the visit] wasn't being used as a cure for insomnia. |
| Saturday 30th September | Went downtown today, met some of the declared candidates in a setting called the "Candidates Gallery", really only a roped off area of the main street. Very apt, keep the candidates behind a rope, in a cage, so to speak, so we the unwashed can gawk. Anyway I spoke to the new candidates and asked them "Why do you want to be on Council?" The answers are here. Took a picture of Joan C and Bill McDonald gathered around Arnold McCurdy's grandchild.. Sandy was there proving again that she is the better campaigner in the McCurdy family - too late, Arnie's not running this time, couldn't win I guess. I heard today that another disgruntled voter will be writing to the local paper about the claim that Peter makes in his pamphlet that he obtained $100.000 for the ecology garden, on first glance one doesn't realise that the ecology garden in question is in Port Hope not Cobourg. Anyway this person is really pissed. |
| Friday 29th September | Peter's latest edition of the truth is available at www.peterdalanty.com and is updated every friday morning. Today being friday I peeked and got a poke in the eye with a burnt stick. Peter is claiming victory in a recent Cobourg Star poll, this is a direct quote lifted from Peter's site: "In a recent poll conducted by the Cobourg Star, Peter Delanty received 93 percent of the votes cast for the two declared mayoralty candidates. That is a ratio of 13 to 1 in Delanty’s favour." The only problem is that this poll is out of date. This week's poll in the Cobourg Star had Joan outvoting Peter, 4 to 1. Let's not mislead now it could be called the first dirty trick of this young campaign. |
| Wednesday 27th September | The day after the night before, the big Liberal fundraiser i Brighton that is. First thanks to karen C for letting me in without paying, I guess the nametag that declared me as a columnist really worked. Anyway catch a 1000 words about it here, or use the link a the top of the page. A big no show was Peter Delanty (Marty Halloran did mention his name), I guess he must still be out trying to find John Russell's house. Only two brave Cobourg Council (2 out of 3) Liberals decided to attend. Joan C and John Lindsay. What can we say about John today hmmm he is not running. |
| Monday 25th September | Attended Joan's coffee club for a few moments. All the usual people there and a few more signed in. I bet the "grumpy old men" who usually occupy the big table were ticked; they had to move and some of them support Peter (tough). A complete unknown signed up today for a council seat, welcome aboard Joanne Heipel. At least one person likes this page-John Russell gave it a plug on the 'wireless' today. |
| Sunday 24th September | I see
that silly poll from the Cobourg Daily Star has come out again. I guess
the old adage "Don't get mad get even" really applies here as Joan's supporters
rallied around and trounced Peter's votes for Mayor by 4 to 1. I still
see that John Floyd has friends, one more this week. Thanks to all for
giving me 14 votes for D.M. but I told Spooner that I would support him
so good luck Bob.
Heard today that Wendy Curtis has given it a lot of thought and is not going to run. I now know why John Floyd has a hard-on for the train whistles ... whilst speaking on the phone, to him, three trains went by, I swear they were in my living room. |
| Friday 22nd September | Just finished reading Peter's weekly promises and pledges and platform. It's a good job I had suggested how to revitalise downtown by setting up a public/private venture, elevators to the upper floors and the town being involved in each unit and then moving on the next block in one of my columns, as these good ideas may not have emerged at all. Peter also claimed victory in the Cobourg Daily Star's election poll. Cynthia Amsden nailed it when she said the this kind of poll is pure fantasy. But take any victory any way you can just remember it is totally worthless. BTW I hear, from many people that some developers are wary of giving money to candidates because of the adverse publicity generated. Good, anything I can do for campaign finance reform will help. "Show us the money" |
| Thursday 21st September | Today is the day
that John Floyd is going to tell us he wants to be on Council
Well I covered the announcement, only John and his daughter were there, with the reps from two papers. John is promising "New and innovative ways of doing business". I'm still waiting for the specifics (I'm from Missouri!) Members of the trains protest group were there, they went off for a photo-op. John looks bigger this time around. The only question now is can he get any bigger sitting in those seats in the council chamber. Those seats are amazing they make people's waists grow. Heard Bill MacDonald on the 'wireless' in a basso profundo voice he proclaimed "with 12 years experience I can show the newcomers the ropes", right! ("follow me to Kelly's boys and girls") |
| Wednesday 20th September | Got to thinking
that when Mr Delanty explained who was on his team he ran through some
names (Bill Johnston, the columnist who writes his pieces with other peoples'
email) Fred Long (now in retirement but amusing us with his melodious voice
on local radio ads) George Smith, Scott Fraser, Maureen McHoney and then
as an afterthought added "Oh and of course John Wright". Who is John Wright?
A former autoworker who was Joan Fawcett's EA when she was the MPP that's
who. When Joan lost her seat he decided to pursue other interests rather
than go back to making cars. One of his enterprises is political consulting
(getting people elected). Bit he costs money! My mind races thinking about
John donating his time Just how much is Peter's campaign really costing?
Heard today that Anne MacDonald has picked up nomination papers |
| Tuesday 19th September | A little birdie told me that the closed session of council last night was brutal. The Mayor decided to tell people to "button it up" and then some fat insurance salesman decided to be profane and tell everybody his side of the story. "Bullshit" and the "F-word" were adjectives and expletives heard many times. |
| Monday 18th September | Noticed that Bill MacDonald has registered for another try at the trough. Considering how much his girth has grown in the last term can his pants take another term? That movie "The spy who shagged me" has never been the same since a friend of mine told me he thought "Fat Bastard" was a spitting image of Billy M. Now I really do have a reason to go to the polls, I can vote for anybody but him!! |
| Saturday 16th September | The local paper printed a straw poll, Delanty in the lead over Chalovich 26 to 2. However Chalovich was spotted shopping at the Farmer's Market and no other candidate was. Peculiar thing about that poll, John Floyd got 9 votes for Mayor, I didn't think he had nine friends in Cobourg. Perhaps he decided to spend his pocket money on eight extra papers! |
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