[policyenthusiast]

I did a quick google search of some of the people donating $1000+ to Cartmell and a lot are realtors or executives within those listed companies, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Honest question though: How do these companies realistically expect to get a return with a Cartmell mayorship? How might an Edmonton mayor repay these bri -ahem- “donations”?

I hadn't thought of that. I bet someone more thorough than I will break it down post-election.

For the ROI element, I can attest to the fact that candidates are much more likely to collaborate with PAC interests for their donors, especially if they plan on running again.

 

[Oilers99]

I did a quick google search of some of the people donating $1000+ to Cartmell and a lot are realtors or executives within those listed companies, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Honest question though: How do these companies realistically expect to get a return with a Cartmell mayorship? How might an Edmonton mayor repay these bri -ahem- “donations”?

Didn't you just answer your own question? There is no actual tit for tat 'bribe'? Some people want him to win without expecting something in return and are willing to donate to do so?

 

[TAS]

 

[Gronk!]

Advance voting starts tomorrow and continues until Saturday. I need the advance vote since my time will be fully occupied on October 20. But I'm still on the fence when it comes to the mayoral race. Knack or Walters?

 

[Slitch]

Didn't you just answer your own question? There is no actual tit for tat 'bribe'? Some people want him to win without expecting something in return and are willing to donate to do so?

I’m sure a lot of PEOPLE do. I’m just not so convinced that corporate entities, who have the explicit goal of advancing their business, seem so keen to invest thousands of dollars to his campaign without some ROÍ though.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Advance voting starts tomorrow and continues until Saturday. I need the advance vote since my time will be fully occupied on October 20. But I'm still on the fence when it comes to the mayoral race. Knack or Walters?

I'm off this fence. IMO ultimately the mayoral seat should come down to the duties of mayorship - maintaining decorum, representing the City, and to liaise with other levels of government. Knack is going in with a clear, demonstrable history of non-partisan representation of constituents and an excellent track record of decorum and participation.

I like Walters and his platform, but he would be better suited as a councillor than as mayor.

 

[Slitch]

I'm off this fence. IMO ultimately the mayoral seat should come down to the duties of mayorship - maintaining decorum, representing the City, and to liaise with other levels of government. Knack is going in with a clear, demonstrable history of non-partisan representation of constituents and an excellent track record of decorum and participation.

I like Walters and his platform, but he would be better suited as a councillor than as mayor.

Agreed. And if any of the new polls are to be believed, the race seems to be coalescing around Knack v Cartmell. I’ll be going Knack.

 

[constance_chlore]

I'm off this fence. IMO ultimately the mayoral seat should come down to the duties of mayorship - maintaining decorum, representing the City, and to liaise with other levels of government. Knack is going in with a clear, demonstrable history of non-partisan representation of constituents and an excellent track record of decorum and participation.

I like Walters and his platform, but he would be better suited as a councillor than as mayor.

Same. I was also making this decision and to me the right choice became clear after the debate. I still think Walters has some great ideas, but he just doesn't seem ready to step into a leadership role. In particular—I think it's important to be willing to tell people the unpleasant truth, like "you can't keep cutting taxes without also cutting services."

 

[TAS]

Same. I was also making this decision and to me the right choice became clear after the debate. I still think Walters has some great ideas, but he just doesn't seem ready to step into a leadership role. In particular—I think it's important to be willing to tell people the unpleasant truth, like "you can't keep cutting taxes without also cutting services."

I liked Walters, too. But going with Knack.

With that dollar difference between him and Cartmell, though, that's a David vs. Golliath situation.

 

[fromyeg]

Advance voting starts tomorrow and continues until Saturday. I need the advance vote since my time will be fully occupied on October 20. But I'm still on the fence when it comes to the mayoral race. Knack or Walters?

Given that recent polls suggest Cartmell and Knack are the only two with a path to victory, I would suggest Knack.

 

[kcantor]

Didn't you just answer your own question? There is no actual tit for tat 'bribe'? Some people want him to win without expecting something in return and are willing to donate to do so?

I've been "out of that game" for a very long time but from what I remember you are correct, there was no actual tit for tat.

I can also remember many parties making contributions to more than one individual in a campaign - and often for every individual campaigning that wasn't an outright wing nut - not expecting any tit for tat but recognizing that campaigning for office is an expensive undertaking and that our electoral system doesn't actually rely on those who win but on those who are prepared to run and lose.

The payoff isn't tit for tat, it's in supporting a system of government that engenders confidence and investment not only at home but from abroad. I'd happily see a maximum in total campaign funding and/or a mazimum in campaign spending which is perhaps more enforceable and certainly more effective in producing a level playing field but until then we can only police our own behaviour.

This might sound like "looking through rose coloured glasses" but at some point in time we need to support those things we want/need to be successful and this is one of them.

And, at the end of the day, the most important thing we can all do is vote because that's the one thing that's totally in our control and the one thing that is only accountable to our own conscience.

 

[Gronk!]

I'm off this fence. IMO ultimately the mayoral seat should come down to the duties of mayorship - maintaining decorum, representing the City, and to liaise with other levels of government. Knack is going in with a clear, demonstrable history of non-partisan representation of constituents and an excellent track record of decorum and participation.

I like Walters and his platform, but he would be better suited as a councillor than as mayor.

Agreed. And if any of the new polls are to be believed, the race seems to be coalescing around Knack v Cartmell. I’ll be going Knack.

Same. I was also making this decision and to me the right choice became clear after the debate. I still think Walters has some great ideas, but he just doesn't seem ready to step into a leadership role. In particular—I think it's important to be willing to tell people the unpleasant truth, like "you can't keep cutting taxes without also cutting services."

I liked Walters, too. But going with Knack.

With that dollar difference between him and Cartmell, though, that's a David vs. Golliath situation.

Given that recent polls suggest Cartmell and Knack are the only two with a path to victory, I would suggest Knack.

Thanks, everyone.

I'm definitely not a fan of Knack's anti-business tendencies, but otherwise he's far more preferable to Cartman and his quasi-political party.
Walters has some great ideas but I'm not sold on his taxing strategy.

Something to think about.

 

[yeggator]

I'm definitely not a fan of Knack's anti-business tendencies

In the words of Puneeta McBryan from Ryan Jespersen’s podcast, “We need Edmontonians to start caring about the economy!”

Sorry, guys, but I’m voting Cartmell. If the mayor’s role is to be the spokesperson for the city, set the agenda and liaise with the province (hardcore right-wingers) and the feds, then Edmonton needs a right-wing mayor. We’ve bemoaned our uncompetitiveness when it comes to the corporate sector, so some optics need to change for the city’s top job. Might help us get more goodies from the province too (as much as I hate this being what we have to resort to).

 

[EtoV]

Didn't you just answer your own question? There is no actual tit for tat 'bribe'? Some people want him to win without expecting something in return and are willing to donate to do so?

These are businesses we're talking about here, thinking they would just donate if they didn't think it would benefit their company is incredibly naive. Companies don't give away money out of the goodness of their hearts, even charitable donations are for the goodwill it brings the companies.

 

[TAS]

In the words of Puneeta McBryan from Ryan Jespersen’s podcast, “We need Edmontonians to start caring about the economy!”

Sorry, guys, but I’m voting Cartmell. If the mayor’s role is to be the spokesperson for the city, set the agenda and liaise with the province (hardcore right-wingers) and the feds, then Edmonton needs a right-wing mayor. We’ve bemoaned our uncompetitiveness when it comes to the corporate sector, so some optics need to change for the city’s top job. Might help us get more goodies from the province too (as much as I hate this being what we have to resort to).

What makes you think Knack doesn't care about the economy or businesses in Edmonton?