The mayoral campaign is heating up.
In the last couple of weeks I've been approached by people from both Smitherman's and Ford's respective teams to "cross over". I respect that -- indeed I am flattered.
And I respect both teams and candidates. Both have a wealth of experience and both genuinely want the best for Toronto.
But I am sticking with Rocco and here's why.
Rocco realises that Mayor is a position with less power and more moral suasion than anything else. The Mayor cannot "order" anyone to do anything. And so a Mayor must lead with ideas and by example. A Mayor cannot alienate Council because once Council and the Mayor are at loggerheads nothing will get done.
Rocco also realises that there is much to do but little money to do it. Real decisions have to be made by the Mayor and Council -- symbols are not enough. Spending has to be refocused. Taxes cannot be cut but similarly they cannot be increased.
And I like Rocco's ideas. Getting services to troubled neighbourhoods, building better transit etc etc. Government is not the problem -- bad governance is.
5 comments:
I will generally agree with your assessment of Rocco Rossi, James. I hope that he will stay away from the bike lane issue and stick with themes that seem much broader. Yes, the middle lane was taken out of Jarvis Street and two bike lanes were added. Don't go spending public tax dollars to turn the lane back into a car lane.
A new mayor will need to be a consensus builder. Ford will definitely not be one. Smitherman will likely have trouble building bridges.
I do think that Rocco Rossi has the most potential for growth. Ford and Smitherman do have hardcore support, but very little softcore potential. If Rossi can reach out to the different communities of Toronto beyond the Toronto Board of Trade, he may gain a lot of softcore support (as long as the supporters go to vote).
Rocco is the brainchild behind kayaking to raise money for the Liberals and that bring your own BBQ BBQ, right?
I'll pass....
If Rocco Rossi has some experience I might be interested. But instead of running for a councillor position he's running for the TOP job right away. Other municipalities have elected these types of people and it hardly ever works well.
Experience is good and both George and Rob have that. Still it`s not everything and Rocco has run major organizations and run them well -- so I`m sticking with Rocco. Cheers
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