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[Caramia]

I'm copying this article in full so people can read.
It is from the TC

Departing reporter gives councillors their final marks
Carolyn Heiman, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I'm satisfying a twenty-year itch by leaving the newspaper at the end of this week to take a new job. This being my last column, I'm giving report cards to Victoria city councillors who want to return to the table.
It's hard to pass judgment knowing I would be terrible at the job. But one incumbent urged me to write about them before I left, which is egging me on. In fairness, I'm including all the incumbents except those who are stepping down. I figure that other than long-suffering city staff, there are few besides myself who have spent as much time watching them at work.
Those stung by remarks here can take solace in the fact the election is 21/2 months away and many readers will have forgotten my comments, or simply disagree. Moreover, name recognition carries a lot of weight when it comes to electors; you have to really tick municipal voters off to get turfed off a council after grasping the ring. This isn't necessarily a good thing, just a fact.

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Since only a third of eligible residents bother to vote, it is also possible that voters don't care how councillors do. They should. Few other political roles have the power to influence day-to-day life beginning from the moment you turn on the tap to brush your teeth, how often your garbage is picked up, how much you pay at a parking meter and what your streetscape looks like.
Victoria council is poised for big changes. Three seasoned municipal politicians are stepping away from the table this year: Mayor Alan Lowe and councillors Bea Holland and Helen Hughes. Depending on how the mayor's race shakes down, other incumbents could be swept aside.
Councillors Sonya Chandler, Chris Coleman, Dean Fortin, Pam Madoff, Charlayne Thornton-Joe and Geoff Young will run again, with Fortin confirmed to make a grab for the mayor's post and Coleman possibly trying as well.
How did they do last term? Here's a summary:

- Sonya Chandler
Achievements: Winding up her first term on council after getting elected on a Green Party slate, she pushes for a wide range of city practices and policies that are better for the environment, including a comprehensive recycling program at city hall.
Needs work: Even taking into account the period she took for maternity leave, she has a high absentee rate at council and often asks questions when the answer is easily found in the agenda papers.
Comments: The least experienced member on council, she was the loudest voice in the cry for higher wages for those serving.

- Chris Coleman
Achievements: A likable steady Eddy on council, who mostly drifts to the happy middle ground on issues. Keeps informed about issues common to all municipalities and often takes a wider view on many issues.
Needs work: Would achieve a higher profile if credited with a key policy change or project of significance.
Comments: He wants to run for mayor but worries the Dean Fortin election machine is too strong to stop. This is symbolic of the absence of risk-taking that plagues the whole council table.

- Dean Fortin
Achievements: Got a jump start by announcing his campaign in June, and that has scared off other wanna-be mayors including Thornton-Joe and Coleman, although the latter may still take the plunge. Runs a successful community centre in a neighbourhood that has its challenges, Burnside Gorge.
Needs work: Initial days of the campaign seem overly cautious -- even waffley and aimed at offending no one. It doesn't create a sense of strong leadership.
Comments: His lefty leanings kept him frozen out of Mayor Alan Lowe's inner liberal circle. He got a get-out-jail card on some of the tougher issues council has faced -- such as approval of the Ellice Street shelter -- because conflict-of-interest rules let him excuse himself from voting.

- Pam Madoff
Achievements: Victoria's downtown might look like any other city if she wasn't the omnipresent voice for preservation, chastising developers and goading her fellow council colleagues to keep the vision of an authentic downtown with well-kept heritage buildings.
Comments: She topped the polls last time, which encourages her to stay the course.
Needs work: She's loathed by many in the development community and might be more effective if she could soften her approach. Once in a while, she should use the mantra: Change is sometimes OK.

- Charlayne Thornton-Joe
Achievements: Tireless worker and committed to solving street and downtown issues. She's a good listener and willing to refine her views after hearing others on an issue. She has learned to work effectively behind the scenes to create change. A big dog-lover, she looks for ways to make the city more dog-friendly even getting the city to ban over-the-counter fireworks.
Comments: Too sensitive for her own good, making it hard to make bold decisions that might be right for the city but not immediately popular.
Needs work: See comments.

- Geoff Young
Achievements: He's the financial brains on the council and, although proudly conservative, that hasn't affected his creative thinking on the region's transportation issues, an area that he keeps on the front burner.
Needs work: Shorter rants.
Comments: Not afraid to speak his mind, even if his views are unpopular or verging on politically incorrect. You gotta respect him for that; no doubt he represents many other conservative-thinking folks. He's the first to speak out if council isn't transparent in its dealings.

[Concerned Citizens]

CCC

A third of 'Mayor Alan Lowe's liberal inner circle' is not standing for re-election, thank God!

Goodbye and good riddance, Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Hughes!

To provide appropriate social housing and rehab for the poorest of the poor, to lower residential property taxes, to save downtown Victoria from the disaster of the Cross Town Plan (24 storey towers along Douglas and Yates), and for real change in every other respect, all the others, including the supposedly illiberal Green Ms Chandler, socialists Mr. Fortin and Madoff and conservative Mr. Young, should be turfed by the voters this fall.

- Gregory Hartnell, President
Concerned Citizens' Coalition

CCC

[Caramia]

This crap from Mr Hartnell is becoming spam.

[Mike K.]

Mr. Hartnell, this forum is NOT a dumping ground for your political aspirations. You are free to comment on topics as an individual, but to push your organization's agenda on every post is overextending your welcome.

Furthermore, on your personal blog you describe VibrantVictoria as a website that is "gung ho for uncontrolled development in downtown Victoria." Such a remark is erroneous and off-putting to individuals who have worked hard to promote sustainable quality development in the region, and it clearly illustrates that you are not interested in what this website represents but in the exposure that this website provides for your political agenda.

If you do not stop spamming the forum your account will be suspended or banned.

[Bernard]

I would not ban Gregory as of this point. He is not fundamentally harming the functioning of this discussion forum and he has not personally insulted/attacked any members.

[Caramia]

How about we just move the spam to the CCC thread so we can get back to discussions on the other threads? I don't mind taking my arguments with him over there. I do enjoy the rebuttals, but I'm mindful that they are starting to clutter up the rest of the forum and prevent meaningful discussion.

[Rob Randall]

I've attended a lot of Council meetings and have seen them in action. I've also met with them all, some more than others, and am impressed by their overall breadth of knowledge and commitment to the job.

[Sonya Chandler] has a high absentee rate at council and often asks questions when the answer is easily found in the agenda papers.

I've seen this happen quite a lot. She plays catch up on a lot of issues. I understand the learning curve for a Councillor is steep and she's come a long way but still...

[Chris Coleman] wants to run for mayor but worries the Dean Fortin election machine is too strong to stop.

True. But if he had raised his profile like Charlayne did with social issues it might have been different. See, Charlayne is the Councillor Liason to the Downtown neighbourhood and Chris is James Bay so he's not as close to the action.

[Dean Fortin] got a get-out-jail card on some of the tougher issues council has faced -- such as approval of the Ellice Street shelter -- because conflict-of-interest rules let him excuse himself from voting.

I know it's his day job but still it was frustrating seeing him walk out of the room every time the Ellice Shelter was mentioned. He really got a free pass there and the other Councillors who dared an opinion suffered.

[Pam Madoff] might be more effective if she could soften her approach. Once in a while, she should use the mantra: Change is sometimes OK.

I've never heard her say, "I'm not sure, I'll have to think about it." She gets quite indignant if anyone dares to disagree with her. I've been on the receiving end of a few of her barbs. But she knows her stuff. When she talks culture the others shut up and listen. Partly out of respect, partly out of fear of saying something dumb.

[Geoff Young] is not afraid to speak his mind, even if his views are unpopular or verging on politically incorrect. You gotta respect him for that; no doubt he represents many other conservative-thinking folks. He's the first to speak out if council isn't transparent in its dealings

Absolutely true. Not allied with the Right as much as is assumed on many issues (automobile hater). Thinks Community Associations have too much power and not afraid to say it.

[Charlane Thornton-Joe]: too sensitive for her own good, making it hard to make bold decisions that might be right for the city but not immediately popular.

Maybe. If the decision is right in the end I think it's ok to get a little emotional on an issue. And she's no softy. She gets misty eyed at situations that would have most people cowering in the corner bawling. Remember, she gets a lot of the thankless tasks like shelters, mental illness and homeless while other Councillors have portfolios like "Youth", "Environment" or "Arts & Culture".

[Mike K.]

- Sonya Chandler
Achievements: Winding up her first term on council after getting elected on a Green Party slate, she pushes for a wide range of city practices and policies that are better for the environment, including a comprehensive recycling program at city hall.
Needs work: Even taking into account the period she took for maternity leave, she has a high absentee rate at council and often asks questions when the answer is easily found in the agenda papers.
Comments: The least experienced member on council, she was the loudest voice in the cry for higher wages for those serving.

Carolyn nails it.

Sonya came in touting support for environmentally sound building practices but when it came time to vote on high-density downtown projects she wanted nothing to do with them.

In fact, at Juliet's public hearing, she lamented the fact Juliet was to be built out of concrete and as a result would be around for such a long time that she wouldn't dare support it.

During public hearings, I got the sense that Sonya would vote in unison with C. Madoff. Whatever Madoff supported, Sonya supported. Whatever Madoff disliked, Chandler disliked.

[aastra]

Victoria's downtown might look like any other city if she wasn't the omnipresent voice for preservation...

Does that include the preservation of parking lots and empty lots? Didn't she vote against the Juliet, against Aria, against the Falls, and against Shutters and Parc Residences, too? Unique buildings, all.

[gumgum]

^^Sonya was right. The Juliet should have been made of hay, mud and pop cans.

[Phil McAvity]

^ nice one! Hahahaha!!!

Carolyn nails it.

Sonya came in touting support for environmentally sound building practices but when it came time to vote on high-density downtown projects she wanted nothing to do with them.

In fact, at Juliet's public hearing, she lamented the fact Juliet was to be built out of concrete and as a result would be around for such a long time that she wouldn't dare support it.

During public hearings, I got the sense that Sonya would vote in unison with C. Madoff. Whatever Madoff supported, Sonya supported. Whatever Madoff disliked, Chandler disliked.

And Mike K. nails it.

I remember hearing Sonya Chandler speak at the Falls hearing and her obsequiousness (the 10$ word of the day!) towards Pam Madoff was glaringly obvious as she fawned over Madoff. Since I disagree with virtually everything Madoff stands for I just shook my head but the one thing I can't criticize Pam Madoff for is her work ethic since I have seen myriad proof that she works very hard. If anything I wish she wouldn't work so hard. Regardless, Chandler didn't even seem to glean that quality from her hero as evidenced by Carolyn Heiman's description of Chandler as lazy, stupid and greedy. It takes quite a person to win the triple crown.

[Rob Randall]

Sonya Chandler
Achievements: Winding up her first term on council after getting elected on a Green Party slate, she pushes for a wide range of city practices and policies that are better for the environment, including a comprehensive recycling program at city hall.

Recycling is great, of course and it's drastically cut down the waste at City Hall but this feature causes me no end of amusement whenever catered food is served at City Hall. After the meal, visitors holding their dirty paper plate, napkin or coffee stir stick stand bewildered before four colour coded plastic waste cans pondering if what they hold is compostable, recyclable or headed for the bin of last resort, the black landfill can. They eventually figure it out but not before extensive consideration and consultation with fellow visitors.