Rob Reid | Victoria | Mayor

[VicHockeyFan]

Good news from Today's TC.

[Mike K.]

Rob Reid's running?

[Caramia]

Awesome news!

[Ginger Snap]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Rob Reid's running?

No pun intended?

[Caramia]

Oh he totally intended it. Don't give him the satisfaction of a /groan. It will go to his head.

[Holden West]

He's a shoe-in unless he comes unglued.

[aastra]

Please jog my memory: is he well-heeled or will his campaign be operating on a shoestring?

[VicHockeyFan]

Some of the best-run campaigns can hit the wall if they get off on the wrong footing, even if you are the perceived front-runner.


(4)

[aastra]

Very true. There are many hurdles to overcome along the way.

[VicHockeyFan]

If you come out of the starting blocks with a good jump, you can expect to have the potential to walk away with victory in the long run though.

[Holden West]

But if he get's tongue-tied or unlaced, he'll get off track. Reid will go toe-to-toe with the other candidates in the hope that he'll last. If he gets off to a blistering start Rob will be the sole candidate with a chance to out-pace the others.

(8)

[Caramia]

I hate you guys!

[aastra]

It's not a stretch to think he'd be a good fit on council. If anything, he'll force the other councillors to pull their socks up. Get them into shape, so to speak. But elections are like marathons. Will he be there at the finish line? Or is this just an exercise in futility?

[Ms. B. Havin]

Well, he's a good guy, so we know he's not a heel...

[Mike K.]

This has turned into a horrible grade 9 creative writing exercise.

[aastra]

Horrible?? I'm seeing some damn good work here.

[spanky123]

Rob was on CFAX this afternoon and OMG did he ever blow it (remember I like Rob too)!

After telling the TC yesterday that he would seek a position as councillor, now in his words he is waffling and 1/3 of him wants to run for mayor and 2/3 wants to "play it safe" and go for a councillor position.

After telling us that he wants to listen and seek opinions, he then goes on a 10 minute monologue where he tells the listener he doesn't understand 2/3rds of what they say in council meetings, has no agenda or policies, but feels he can get things done.

Rob was obviously nervous but holy smokes he is better to not say anything.

In fairness I only heard the first 15 minutes so maybe he got better but you need to get your lad ship shape there Louise.

[Mike K.]

Council sessions and council debates can be confusing to the uninitiated so we shouldn't expect first time candidates to carry themselves like incumbents.

If anything, I think the radio stint shows Rob is a citizen of Victoria first, political hopeful second.

[Caramia]

Funny how we make our impressions of politicans. People want someone who can run a successful business at the helm, and then end up judging him based on his public speaking. Do we want a slick mouthpiece? Or someone whose got a track record of building something good in the community?

[Rob Randall]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Council sessions and council debates can be confusing to the uninitiated so we shouldn't expect first time candidates to carry themselves like incumbents.

If anything, I think the radio stint shows Rob is a citizen of Victoria first, political hopeful second.

I've been attending Council meetings fairly regularly for a couple of years. It can be incredibly confusing as they go by very fast sometimes. There's always a lot of discussion and negotiation by all the players in the days before an application comes before Committee of the Whole so everyone is way up to speed except for those of us in the audience.

Then it comes time to vote. They don't just vote yes or no. Someone might make a motion to decline. If no one supports that motion, someone might make a counter motion to support the proposal with certain conditions. Then that could fail and someone else makes a motion to support without conditions. Then they vote to support (or decline, or table) the proposal. So they either vote yes to say no or vote no to say yes or either to defer it to a later meeting and it all goes by in literally eight or nine seconds with the Councillors barely raising their hands so you have to jump out of your seat and quickly count the limp arms while you can. It can be baffling--and I've run two Boards and am a member of three committees, but because CotW is for Councillor information, not the public, it's a whole other world of complexity.

I didn't hear Reid's interview but talking on the radio can be pretty hairy if you've never done it before. A couple more segments and he'll be fine.

[aastra]

Exactly. Give him a chance to get his second wind.

[spanky123]

I have no issue with Rob. He was asked to go on CFAX solely because he had announced he was running for a council position. To then immediately turn around and say he is waffeling is unacceptable. After all, his last name isn't Favre!

With lots of solid people quickly adding their name to the ballot, the public isn't going to give any one newcomer too much rope.

[Bernard]

Rob is no longer in the race.

[Rob Randall]

Rob e-mailed me today with the news and I told him I was disappointed that he wasn't going to be in the running but understood his reasons not to run and that I supported him in anything he did. I'm sure he will remain influential in civic matters.

[Ms. B. Havin]

^ Wow, sorry to hear he dropped out...