2014 Mayoral Election

[SteelTown]

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

It's fairly clear that Bratina's outlived his usefulness on the political scene. Maybe he should have a chat with DiIanni about what comes next.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

Hamilton Centre's nomination was closed uncontested with Anne Tennier claiming it as the sole standing nominee.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Bratina didn't get the Liberal party nomination for Hamilton Centre. Anne Tennier got the nomination.

Does this now mean Bratina throws his proverbial hat into the municipal ring? God I hope not.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Does this now mean Bratina throws his proverbial hat into the municipal ring? God I hope not.

There is opportunity to take advantage of a split vote between McHattie and Eisenberger, though with Clark running as well it complicates that.

If he were to run, an anti BLine-LRT stance (even just a "let's wait and see first" position) might win him some votes. I could also imagine him playing to the mountain voters that way, talking up alternative transit improvements in their wards instead of such a big investment in the lower city. But voters in Dundas, Ancaster, and especially Flamborough should be leery about anything he promises.

[interr0bangr]

There hasn't been any polling data yet has there?

[mattgrande]

https://twitter.com/spaikin/status/501808599627485184

From Steve Paikin on twitter, ".#hamont mayor Bob Bratina will seek #lpc nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. NDP's Wayne Marston holds it now."

Not too surprised by the news.

[matt602]

Not at all surprising, and it will be a waste of his time. The NDP has an incredibly firm grip on East Hamilton.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Embarrassing.

Which riding can he try next after this debacle?

[durandy]

I agree, I don't expect Bratina will do better than Di Ianni did in 2008, but you never know.

[markbarbera]

While it is true the NDP have held Hamilton East since 2006, I don't think it can be considered a 'safe' riding for them. Prior to Wayne Marsden's current eight-year run, the riding was consistently Liberal from 1962-2006, an impressive 44-year run.

That Liberal dynasty was interrupted mainly by the Liberal Party's sagging fortunes during the Martin/Dion/Ignatieff leadership periods, aggravated by the infighting among what was then a very divided Liberal party (recall how Shiela Copps, then a solid Chretien supporter, was squeezed out of the HoC during the 2004 riding re-distributions by pro-Martin candidates Stan Keyes in Hamilton Centre and Tony Valeri in Hamilton East). Now that the Liberal Party is solidly united under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, and the Layton-led Orange wave of 2011 has washed away, this riding is definitely back in contention heading into the 2015 election.

[SteelTown]

Why didn't he just choose the new riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas riding? It's a new riding so no incumbent. Plus it's likely a good spot for the Liberals to pick up.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Why didn't he just choose the new riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas riding?

I believe Bratina is Serbian/Croatian, which is a significant east end, Stoney Creek demographic.

[ScreamingViking]

He'd probably get a rough ride from voters in Ancaster and Dundas, who will no doubt remember his promises to look at de-amalgamation.

[SteelTown]

.@bradformayor just announced he's against LRT, even if the province funds capital costs. Taxpayers can't afford it, he said #HamOnt #sl
by Samantha Craggs via twitter on 9/3/2014 at 9:36:40 AM

[Dr Awesomesauce]

That's the kind of guy Clark is: he doesn't talk about initiatives the City can accomplish, only the ones we can't do.

[LikeHamilton]

Pull the plug on Hamilton LRT: Mayoral candidate Brad Clark

Mayoral candidate Brad Clark is officially calling on Hamilton to pull the plug on a contentious bid for an $811-million LRT system in favour of negotiating cheaper bus rapid transit with the province.
The Stoney Creek councillor said he will oppose pursuing the 14-kilometre light-rail line from McMaster University to Eastgate even if the province provides 100 per cent capital funding for the project.
"We have to make decisions based on our needs," he said at a Wednesday campaign announcement. "We want LRT. We don't need LRT."
With the announcement, Clark officially positions himself in clear opposition to council colleague and mayoral candidate Brian McHattie, who has championed the LRT plan as a city-building effort with dramatic potential to boost development and business along the east-west route.
Candidate and former mayor Fred Eisenberger, who pushed the LRT plan during his time in office, has called for a citizen panel on LRT and city transit options.
Clark argued the transit overhaul is still too expensive for local taxpayers once land expropriation, underground infrastructure improvements and other traffic changes are factored in.
He dismissed the economic uplift arguments found in past studies on LRT as uncertain and overly "rosy."
Clark said the city should instead begin negotiating with the province over a bus rapid transit system for the same B-line that he estimates would cost closer to $350 million and require fewer local infrastructure and land costs.
At the same time, he urged expanding HSR bus service as recommended in the Rapid Ready report that supports LRT.
He said it would be too expensive, however, to simultaneously pursue bus rapid transit along both the east-west B-line and the north-south A line that runs from the water to the airport.
Mayoral candidate Crystal Lavigne has said she favours better bus service over LRT, while Ejaz Butt only supports the project with 100 per cent provincial funding. Michael Baldasaro and Nick Iamonico have both expressed support for the project.

More to come.

mvandongen@thespec.com
905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/48...te-brad-clark/

[mattgrande]

How often is the province (theoretically) willing to give us nearly a billion dollars? And Brad wants to say "no thanks, we're fine." Talk about short sighted.

[CaptainKirk]

IIRC, we in Hamilton will pay for the BIG MOVE anyway, won't we?

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Pull the plug on Hamilton LRT: Mayoral candidate Brad Clark


Clark argued the transit overhaul is still too expensive for local taxpayers once land expropriation, underground infrastructure improvements and other traffic changes are factored in.
He dismissed the economic uplift arguments found in past studies on LRT as uncertain and overly "rosy."
Clark said the city should instead begin negotiating with the province over a bus rapid transit system for the same B-line that he estimates would cost closer to $350 million and require fewer local infrastructure and land costs.
At the same time, he urged expanding HSR bus service as recommended in the Rapid Ready report that supports LRT.
He said it would be too expensive, however, to simultaneously pursue bus rapid transit along both the east-west B-line and the north-south A line that runs from the water to the airport.
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This makes no sense. LRT is far cheaper to run than BRT. And he's completely dismissing the economic gain. He's misleading voters with Rob Ford'esque 'tax savings'.

Plus he voted for LRT when he was on council.