5915 replies to this topic

[Stephen Andrew]

Here's why I see Hammond as more viable than Beyer - I could see Hammond taking progressive votes, to being palatable to a larger audience.  Beyer strikes me as being a traditional conservative and that tends to be off-putting to many in Victoria who are Green/Liberal/NDP.  I also don't see Hammond being off putting to those who would consider themselves conservative, he is more middle of the road.  So the short answer is that he'd (Hammond) be better able to "win-over" the Victoria voter who wants to help the homeless in ways that actually help the homeless (versus enabling them).

Having chatted with him I think this is a pretty good summation.  Maybe you could invite the mayoral candidates to have a Vibrant Victoria chat?  You could even do it on Facebook.

[Stephen Andrew]

I've come across very few in my circles who are keen to vote Helps this time around - rather those I know are keen to vote for someone other than Helps and are mostly hoping a viable alternative is on the ballot.  I believe there is a viable alternative (Mr. Hammond) - in which case, you have to hope that you do not wind up with votes being split away from the alternative and that those candidates decide to run for council instead, throwing their weight behind the viable and most likely alternate candidate for mayor.  And/or that a number of Left Leaning alternates begin to throw their hats into the ring splitting the Helps vote.  Again, it highlights the silliness of having people "run for mayor" and an entirely different group "run for council", if it were run as a board with a chair, it would make far more sense.

 

Really hoping Mr. Andrew throws his hat into the ring for council.  The New Council candidates appear pragmatic, which is what is very sorely needed.

Thanks for the shout out.  I'm getting closer to deciding.  It will not be for mayor.  During the last election people kept telling me they would have voted if I went for council or at least one term on council under my belt. Good advice. 

[Nparker]

Thanks for the shout out.  I'm getting closer to deciding.  It will not be for mayor... 

I can guarantee you will receive at least one vote it you choose to run, Mr. Andrew.

[A Girl is No one]

Just want to provide a current biography for Mayor Lisa Helps to clarify the questions about her background. Hope it helps.

In 2011 Lisa Helps was elected as a Councillor for the City of Victoria. In 2014 she was elected Mayor, and is now seeking re-election as Mayor in the upcoming municipal election on October 20 2018.

Lisa Helps resides in the Fernwood area of Victoria and has been an active member of the community. While Chair of the Board of Directors of Fernwood Neighborhood Residents Group (NRG), Lisa Helps was instrumental in leading the organization through the purchase and restoration of a run-down building in the heart of the community. The successful project resulted in newly built affordable housing units that is anchored by the Cornerstone Café, an enterprising non-profit venture.

Lisa Helps holds a B.A. and Master’s in History from the University of Victoria. During her undergraduate and graduate studies she earned eight awards, scholarships and prizes. While working on her PhD at the University of Toronto she earned three additional awards; the Trudeau Foundation Scholarship, the Barbara Frum Memorial Award in Canadian Studies and the SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship.

Lisa Helps started her professional career as a strategic planning consultant in 2009 and then expanded her activities to include operating a small business selling and shipping composters and digesters. At this time she also served as the Executive Director of the Community Micro Lending Society in Victoria and participated on the Program Committee of Leadership Victoria, a local organization that runs a multi-sector community leadership program. While a member of the Bread and Roses Collective, Lisa Helps served on the publishing team for Victoria Street Newz, a monthly news, opinion and arts magazine that provided a dignified way for low and/or no income people to earn income and participate in the local economy.

For additional information on Mayor Lisa Helps, please visit www.lisahelpsvictoria.ca

About the micro loans, I have it on very good authority that she came in the small business and completely messed up everything to the point where the ladies who had started it left.

She received funding from the Trudeau foundation to do her PHD, instead, she just spent the money traveling the world, focusing on communist countries. Never finished her PHD.

As a mayor....

So in essence, all I see there is an irresponsible ideologue who loves to spend carelessrly other peoplés money.

[Victoria Watcher]

from all accounts the microlending business hardly loaned any money had high overhead (paid by corporate donors)  and on top of it all charged 10% to borrowers.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 August 2018 - 01:58 AM.

[Bob Fugger]

Sorry, but isn't this copy and pasting to much information from a third party website? Dont the rules say you can quote a paragraph and the point people to a link to find out more.

Isn't this almost political advertising as well?

Inquiring minds and all.

 

I agree, I've had far less egregious posts moderated.  Mods, help?

[Rob Randall]

It's permissible here as it's not a copyrighted news article. It's correcting misinformation about Helps' background, which is no better or worse than any other councillor in recent memory.

Edited by Rob Randall, 25 August 2018 - 07:10 AM.

[Mike K.]

I’m sure Ms Helps won’t mind her bio being reposted here.

[mbjj]

I'll take the time later in the day to carefully read the biography stuff, though I think I read much the same once when I investigated. Still not impressed. I was more impressed with Helen Hughes for instigating the street clean-up once a year. Remember that? When my husband was downtown the other day (he doesn't go much these days) he was appalled at the filth.

[sdwright.vic]

I’m sure Ms Helps won’t mind her bio being reposted here.

But others do....

[Nparker]

But others do....

Presumably, ALL other candidates will be given equal time on VV.

[Rob Randall]

^What, some candidate information is forbidden?

 

If I want to post a twenty page bio of Changes The Clown I will do as I damn please.

[A Girl is No one]

Ok am i wrong in being furious after receiving a Lisa Helps campaign email? I only ever contacted her through the city, for official city business. Is there not a law against using city mailing lists for fundraising???? I am not a big proponent of all the new, and sometimes seemingly over the top privacy laws, but this might change my mind. I am furious. 😤😤

[Nparker]

Ok am i wrong in being furious after receiving a Lisa Helps campaign email? I only ever contacted her through the city, for official city business. Is there not a law against using city mailing lists for fundraising????...

Ben Isitt pulled a similar stunt with me a while back - messaging me for some sort of pet project of his, seeking my endorsement. The only way he could have got my email address was through communications I made to the CoV for business - not political - matters. To say I was angry is an understatement.

[rjag]

Ok am i wrong in being furious after receiving a Lisa Helps campaign email? I only ever contacted her through the city, for official city business. Is there not a law against using city mailing lists for fundraising???? I am not a big proponent of all the new, and sometimes seemingly over the top privacy laws, but this might change my mind. I am furious.

 

Fortin did it as well using an email database from one of the union locals...I think there is a conflict situation...easiest thing to do is contact Elections BC and the Privacy Commissioners office

[A Girl is No one]

I think I will! The last thing I want on a Saturday morning is Lisa Helps’ love trumps hate message invading my home life. As mayor, she very quickly, and continuously, created more division amongst Victoria residents, known to be a very tolerant bunch (and that includes me), than any other politician I know. I really despise politicians that say the exact opposite of what they do - and I most certainly don’t want to have to deal with this in my own private inbox. Grrrrr

[A Girl is No one]

Fortin did it as well using an email database from one of the union locals...I think there is a conflict situation...easiest thing to do is contact Elections BC and the Privacy Commissioners office

When did the privacy rules kick in? Maybe he did this before they were in place?

[spanky123]

from all accounts the microlending business hardly loaned any money had high overhead (paid by corporate donors)  and on top of it all charged 10% to borrowers.

 

I seem to recall reading that the company invested something like $30K over 5 years. Overhead was many times higher than that.

[spanky123]

Ok am i wrong in being furious after receiving a Lisa Helps campaign email? I only ever contacted her through the city, for official city business. Is there not a law against using city mailing lists for fundraising???? I am not a big proponent of all the new, and sometimes seemingly over the top privacy laws, but this might change my mind. I am furious.

 

I would file a complaint with the spam police and the OIPC. 

[rjag]

When did the privacy rules kick in? Maybe he did this before they were in place?

 

Not saying its illegal or not, thats up to the privacy commissioner etc...if anything it could be construed as unethical...but the legislation has been around for 20 years. Always worth a call to their office