How do you decide who to vote for?

How do you decide your vote? How do you pick your councilor? Municipal government has a direct impact on the life of you and your family, on your roads, recreation, water quality and so much more. How do you choose who gets to make those decisions for you? Tell us how you make your choice.

Comments

[Ed2]

Gina;

This opinion is a little late but I am proud of you. Since CEO's run the province, that is who we should be electing.

Pick from ruthless uncaring developers, Ken Lay types at hydro, white collar criminals from communications giants, 407ETR ghouls,m and all who pay for candidates in an election.

How can a person possibly vote for the above.

I say a start will be to have candidates and CEO's require a mandatory criminal check clearance to the level of Nuclear Plant access or chemical tanker truck drivers and this will weed out a major protion of drooling self-centered trained seals who bark back the right policies for a couple of corporate treats of smelt.

[Gina]

This is the first time in 30 years that I will NOT be voting. WHY? One of the front favoured 3 will win, even though I don't feel any are deserving. And the incumbent in Ward 5 will probably win, because people usually choose the "devil they know" instead of the one they don't.

I believe there should be a box to check on the ballot that reads "NONE OF THE ABOVE" that we might send the proper message as Hamiltonians that we are fed up with how things have been going for the past few decades! The entire council needs to be overhauled - we need fresh faces, with fresh ideas and people truly wanting what is best for Hamilton.

As for the Pan Am Stadium or Aerotropolis...who are we kidding?? We don't have the tax base to afford any of it. We are barely keeping afloat now. How about fixing our problems with whatever money may be in the coffers (ie decrepit sewers causing severe flooding for the past few years; attrocious roads etc.)

These politicians speak of "downtown revitilization"...how about cleaning up the downtown, get rid of all the vagrants, goths, ne'er-do-wells....then, maybe, we will feel safe to walk the downtown core after dark.

Hamilton downtown used to be a great place (although my young-adult children can't even imagine it) with several movie theatres, bars, cafes, dance clubs etc. It was an awesome place to find entertainment. Instead of looking "forward", perhaps we should learn from what worked and what didn't in the past??! Perhaps we should strive to be the Hamilton of yester-year and find a way to bring back some of its glory.

[john]

I WONT BE VOTING FOR ANY OF THE 3 STOOGES ON ELECTION DAY...THE HOTHEAD,THE CROOKED WINDBAG OR THAT OTHER GUY WE CALL MAYOR THAT IS NOT A LEADER...I WILL VOTE FOR GLENN HAMILTON FOR MAYOR,,,TIME FOR A SHAKE UP AT CITY HALL!

[john]

dont vote for any famiLIAR politicians,,,,they ruined this city,,,,di ianni is at it again getting the police in uniform(retired or otherwise) to support him...all canidates should jump on him for that,,,it shows our finest at there worse ,,,this larry guy is still slithering his way into the city hall... on election day i will vote for GLENN HAMILTON!

[Cathy]

To start, the candidates running for mayor are not anything to talk about. So basically it stems down to this... Fred and Larry had their turn at bat... so why not Bob too. Can't do any worse than we have been doing.

[New Voter - Ward 3]

I have limited choices to vote for. Bernie Morelli is really great at what he does, and Paul Tetly was good aswell. However I was disappointed as to how Mark Dimillo was during the debate.

An opening statement is meant to intrigue the voters. He did nothing more than bash every single candidate while all others were very respectful to him. How I decide to vote is how they plan to get things done, and who is respectful as a candidate and possible councillor. Mark Dimillo lost my vote due to his extreme disrespect, he bashed more of other peoples ideas then he offered solutions to.

[Liz]

I pick the person who is most knowledgeable about my Ward, they must live here and be actively involved in the community. I vote for the people who share the same image for the future of Hamilton.

I will not vote for ANYONE who supports the Aeropolis. I believe in good and sometimes long term investments.

I wil vote for the person who supports bike lanes (as a driver I would like a lane for bikers to have), decreasing property taxes, investing in education, investing it beautifying the city, and support bringing in NEW businesses.

[Old Fart]

I never vote for the "most popular". I can always find the "least offensive" & that's who gets my vote most of the time! It makes the process so much easier!

[David]

Tracy's comment concerns me. I just spoke with the City Clerks' office and was told that they will mail me a form to be added to the voters' list. Like my wife who is already on the list I also have to provide identification when I present that form at the polling station. I was also told these forms will be available at the polling station. I cannot see how they would treat an error in someones' address any differently.

As for voting the mayoralty is easy. There is plenty of information about the main candidates. As for councillor I will do my best to find a candidates meeting. Without it there is the incumbent and the others. If I feel that I cannot support my sitting councillor I want to vtry and familiarize myself with the alternatives.

[Tracy]

The decision was made for me...I am not voting. I have lived in my house for the past nine years and have voted every time. This year my voting registration has the incorrect address and the only way to fix it is to go to City Hall and change it. I do not have time to go to City Hall, I work on the other side of town and work past the hours that City Hall is open. I guess my vote doesn't really matter.

[kevv]

you give THEM one term ,if they fail to perform like that last two you kick their a$$ out..... unfortunately we cant seem to attract any real leaders anymore,including the feds and province...maybe we're raising a bunch of spoiled brats who only think of themselves and think they are gods to be worshipped like ceasar.
also lower all their salaries by 30% and drop the 2 term pensions
then you'll clean out the garbage

[Dave]

pick a straw and hope for the best, nothing seperates on wolf in a sheep's clothing from another.

They all the want the same things, personal pension plan and a populace to fleece to get it!

status quo bend over and spread em!

[ed]

I'll be doing exactly what everyone else will be doing in this town. You recognize a name as being an incumbent, then you pick the one above or below it.