Post Election Re-Cap

There will be a few people that discount the results
I'm sure some people are more unhappy than others
I am not upset with my result
Sure, better would have been nice
But I was disadvantaged in many ways
Time foremost, working downtown left me very little to distribute material
Money secondly, but I still find it a much overrated necessity
Money buys signs, which people despise looking at, remove, or destroy
Not being the only candidate to avoid signs
I cannot be accused of not doing my part
Sure a few business cards, meet & greets, and some other invited functions,
May not have been enough to win
Against the high visibility campaigns of my competition
Regardless of the result
We all had a 3 in 13 chance to win
Three of us actually got in, but the rest did their best
I can be quite happy with 10th in this crowd of high quality candidates
Well perhaps not the unknown guy in 13th, who can tell if he was even real?
5,336 votes later I am still a citizen that is not elected
It's still more than I expected 1000 business cards to achieve
Twitter was more helpful than some think it could be
Facebook was not too useful
The web page itself was probably less effective as a tab than a full blown website may have been
These are learning curves we experience
To do the job better next time
At least now, people know who I am
Which is more than I had almost 2 months ago when this started off
I'm proud of my debate responses
That could have helped me  more than I know
I didn't run as somebody else, I ran as myself
If that got your vote, I thank you
If it didn't, what would?
Media had very little to do with the public's feeling
Just like Toronto
Once you knew a certain person was running for Mayor
We knew they would win, regardless of media attention
The opposition did their best
And they should also be respected for that
A vote for me was not a waste because I came in 10th
You voted for me to oust an incumbent
You succeeded on two counts
My votes did not hurt challengers
Despite one tall gentleman's opinion in his many negative twitter personas
5,336 opinions outweigh that 1
My running was not a detriment
It was an option many wanted to choose
For that I am honoured
Perhaps we will do this again

Twitter Campaign

Many candidates are using it but how effectively, some are not
List below will be candidate, following, followers, listed, and tweets

Starting with those not on Twitter: DiBiase, Klabouch, Frustaglio, DeLuca and Cacciolo-Lionti

Now for those that are

@CandidateFerri  follow 7 followed 19 listed 1 tweets 50
@Ginorosati follow 13 followed 46 listed 2 tweets 164
@TeamSchulte follow 18 followed 34 listed 2 tweets 50
@DiNardo4Vaughan follow 34 followed 26 listed 1 tweets 7
@CarrieLiddy follow 39 followed 49 listed 3 tweets 150
@Craig4regional follow 55 followed 33 listed 1 tweets 89
@RichardLorello follow 71 followed 139 listed 6 tweets 1302
@VoteforJrh follow 761 followed 125 listed 7 tweets 1189

Anybody listed as 1, is on my list

While Richard has more followers and tweets, he's also campaigned much longer than I have
So I'm pretty happy with this progress

Just because I'm not knocking your door, doesn't mean I haven't met you in the streets when I deliver my material. I've met many, all of which were impressed. I helped 2 people through email while the current council asked same questions could not answer. I'm happy about that too.

To say I should be knocking when your kids are asleep and its well after 9pm is ludicrous. The days I've had the ability to deliver material earlier I have, and the people I've met were all positively responsive.
Far more are responsive on Twitter, shock to many I'm sure.

6 days to go.

No Endorsements Yet

While I did have a very favourable interview with the VPFFA
I was not chosen as one of the candidates to support
However their support was volunteer hours to install signs etc.
I don't have any
So offering their service to install non-existant signs would have been futile
I do greatly support our fire department and
I am also a trained Health & Safety rep.

The Citizens group Time For Change held an online poll
I was not among the leaders they have chosen to endorse
But nobody really knows me yet
If they were to vote after seeing the debates on Rogers
And the Vaughan Citizen debate available at http://www.votedeb.ca/
(Thanks to Deb Schulte for making that available)
I do believe my numbers would have been higher
But its mostly irrelevant as many individuals
Do not agree or support this group in the first place.
Many do certainly, and I will allow people to make that decision on their own

So far my budget of $0 and a complete web strategy of Twitter, facebook, blog, and webpage
Has certainly garnered me more followers than most candidates running, at least on Twitter
Even if I initiated by following first

I gave my full support to Concord West community proposal, along with other candidates
So I can hope some of them are receptive to my comments there.

I helped solve an issue for one man in Ward 4, that no other political representative/candidate did.

People who did know who I am, before the election process
Know my ability to bring numbers and facts together to support cases
That is not a skill to be lost

Fine, I didn't run before, some people resent that
I have no issue against those that have
But take a good look at what I offered in those debates, read my webpage,
And really think it over

Thank you for reading

Regional Candidate Debate at Vellore Village Community Centre

I'd like to thank Vaughan Citizen and their Community Links panel
Vaughan Social Action Council and
Moderator Daniele Zanotti
For an excellent round of questions from panel and residents

From a timely answered standpoint, nobody held a candle to me
My answers were clear consise and to the point
Many candidates and residents acknowledged this and congratulated me for doing well.

With the time limits given, many of the other challengers and
Especially the incumbents
Did not completely get their opinions or answers in at all times

Many had good ideas, often the later answers would expand on previous ideas
So it was more advantageous to go later

I'm happy to say I got a few rounds of applause which is encouraging.

I do not think the incumbents explained their desire to force the mayor to resign effectively
As the mayor was unable to defend herself, not being present
I felt it was a poor tact to blame her for a lack of leadership

Yes other challengers on the stage did also get applause
I am not denying that others had fine arguments or answers to questions
Many of which I agreed with
I feel however many of them wanted to say too much in time allotted

While many resident questions were asked
One particular resident and mayor hopeful was less enthused his wasn't chosen
The drama eventually died down and credit Daniele for his cool in dealing with it.

The irony of one question of limited terms
Is all candidate said YES, including the incumbents who have had several terms
And wanting more no less
Whereas the challengers can clearly not be called on this

I am thankful the evening was not quite as heated as the Rogers debate
As I would have put on my race helmet for protection
I did have it handy

I hope all in attendance left more informed about all of us
To make a difficult decison for their vote

If you like three of us, pick three
If only two, pick two
If only one, pick one
If you hated us all, please don't make a rash decision

Remember to Vote For, Don't Hope For, A New Council

Regional Debate 1 Rogers TV

Started off reasonably civil
30 seconds to introduce
30 second answers to various questions
It was the open the discussion segments that got a bit heated.
While I wasn't the most vocal or loudest
I did get some words in
Correcting DiBiase's numbers
On regional percentage of funds
The heat came from Richard vs. Joyce arguments
Carrie Liddy had some words as well, but was more controlled
The rest of us kept our cool relatively.
30 seconds to close was also difficult to get everything in.
I'm looking forward to Vaughan Citizen debate tomorrow.
I'll do my best to be noticed, for the right reasons.

Krystoff was yet again absent
He does however seem to write a lot on Concord West webpage.

I submitted my letter of support to Concord West
having been uanble to attend their meeting on the 28th of September.

Post Meet & Greets

Ward 3 was pretty slow, Ward 4 was better
Ward 1 had a decent turnout
Ward 5 was very busy
Ward 2 must have been at the Mayor's debate held by Chamber


People most likely to vote in strong numbers based on this
Ward 1 and Ward 5
The Hospital is a big concern for seniors
As it won't be built in a timeframe many of them need
They need clinics

Traffic is a big worry for many residents
I'm not the only candidate targeting this

Incumbents are all on defensive

Intensity of development is also an issue
One I also have my say on

Subway is less a concern from what I hear
It's coming fine, when will it expand further?
I think it should loop
But it needs to do so in locations unaffected by it
Not displacing homes or businesses to build it

2 debates next week

I'm still the underdog
We shall see

Apologies to those that were annoyed

I said I wouldn't knock door to door, and I may yet have to
But I chose to leave my cards at a commuter lot for YRT
I did receive one complaint
Pretty sure I'm not getting that vote
It was never my intent for the card to enter your door
It's brightness should have been visible before rolling a window
I will not use this method again
One complaint is too many

Upcoming Events

Oct.2 2010
Woodbridge Market from 9am to 11:30am  ***** CANCELLED BY MARKET OWNER *****

Habitat for Humanity Re-Store grand opening at noon on Roundtree Dairy Road Noon

Oct. 5 2010

Regional debate to take place in Newmarket Theatre 9:30am-11:30am

Oct. 7 2010 Regional Debate Vellore Village C.C.

Oct. 19 2010 KARA meet the candidates at Kleinburg School

Meet & Greet Session 1 Ward 3

While I did meet many of the candidates, either by a quick hello or shaking hands
At least one of the regional candidates appeared to be missing
Perhaps he made his presence unknown, at least to me
As a kind and considerate person I offered good luck to all I saw
And many were equally kind to offer it back
One resident, though associated with a Ward 3 candidate
Has questioned how Regional level councillors get voted in.
He feels either we pick one, and three get in, or we determine a choice method
1st, 2nd, and 3rd votes
Most 1st votes is 1st candidate
Most 1st and 2nd after that is 2nd candidate
Most 1st and 2nd and 3rd after that is 3rd candidate
He also was at issue with how the regional candidate with most votes
Should not consider themseleves as a Deputy Mayor
I agree that may be crossing the line
As the term is technically only Acting Mayor, during Mayor's absense.
Another resident thought I was part of a certain religious community
It was probably my nose
But sorry to say I am not of that community but I'm sure they are upstanding folk.
The incumbents all showed up much later than the designated time
Having representatives in their stead until  they could arrive much later
Sons, husbands
At least they shook hands, and one gave donuts
But one of the few citizens who actually acknowledged me,
(As many were standoffish picking their favorites and ignoring others)
Asked WHY am I running?
Straight forward answer: I'm tired of pedestrians dieing in our streets, preventable deaths, all of them.
No matter whose fault is claimed, they are not "accidents" they are cause and effect.
Running that red light, answering your phone, trying to beat the countdown, catch the bus
None of that will matter if you are dead 2 seconds later
Is that 2 seconds worth your life? Anyone's life?
If waiting is, I would wait, I prefer to be alive, you need this desire to live to prevent these things.
Why am I running?
I want my kids, and everyone else's to have a future, to not have it taken away by a motorist on a phone.
Our society wants everything fast, quick, now, but if you don't slow down
You miss the important things in life
People

Entering the Race

For three positions for Local and Regional Councilor
We have thirteen candidates
Three Incumbents
One former incumbent and past Mayor
Two political activists
Myself
And six more.

The biggest issue is gridlock and traffic related issues.
The current council has had the ability to work on this
Not all of their work has been in vain
Dufferin north of Steeles is very well done and effective
It should be a model for all regional arterial roads in Vaughan
Especially all that connect to regions outside of Vaughan
Like Toronto

This example however is not the high volume roadway that Rutherford Road is
Between Hwy 400 and Jane Street is where the majority of our traffic related issues occur
The extra lanes only fuels the disrespect of motorists to do as they please
This is often full of blocked intersections
And when it moves occasionaly motorists feel they have right to use the entire roadway to turn

Driving is done with your eyes
Feet and hands are mere tools to work with

Driving is reading
Reading signs
Reading lights
Reading pedestrians and cyclists intentions
Reading traffic

This is not a difficult task

Yet if one bad apple fails at any of these tasks
Several bad apples inevitably follow it down the garden path

If you cannot cross it, don't block it.
Keep it clear before you get in gear
Traffic moves in more than one direction than somebody's ego
This may sound harsh but
Knowing the size of your vehicle and where it can go is simple geometry
Not rocket science
The math is far simpler
Children could do it

Multiple lane turns, and turning from lanes not designated to be turned from
Are an even bigger problem than a few blocked intersections
I'll tell you why
Left and right have never been the same direction
How can turning left into a right lane possibly make sense
Or right into a left for that matter
This puts a vehicle where they are not expected to be
And turning from a lane without the turn arrow designation
Is complete disrespect for human safety
This more than any other motorist indiscretion
Causes pedestrian collisions
That can often lead to fatalities

Many blame pedestrians for these collisions
They are not completely absolved from blame
Not respecting signals with countdown timers is frequent
Not pushing the walk button is perhaps not common knowledge
That it extends walk times
If a red hand or timer is active
The best course of action is NOT to cross
Most of these collisions will occur or have occurred during that countdown

Please check my links to the right for more of my thoughts

I look forward to our Meet & Greet session tonight at Chancellor Community Centre