Maybe Claude could take a night off from politicking

Gosh, is it possible for a politician not to politick, even once in awhile?
At times, you’d have thought last night’s 4th annual Keystone Awards gala at Sun Peaks was a political convention, thanks to some of the politicians in attendance. The event honours the region’s home builders for outstanding work in their industry. It’s supposed [...]

Next time Campbell says no way, don’t be so sure

Armchair Mayor column published in the Saturday, Sept. 27 edition of The Kamloops Daily News
 
As pleased as I am that tolls are off the Coquihalla, I can’t help but shake my head at the way Gordon Campbell does things. He is like a bear who can’t stop bluffing charges.
He will be absolutely strident, unbending, stubborn [...]

Are the media being unkind to Betty?

If you’re a Daily News reader, you will have seen that during the past two days we’ve published stories examining outgoing MP Betty Hinton’s claim to have brought more than $74 million in funding to the Kamloops Thompson Cariboo riding since the Conservatives formed government.
Hinton raised the figure a couple of weeks ago. At first, [...]

Behind Closed Doors — Life At City Hall: Chapter 3

 
This is the third in a series on my experiences as the mayor of Kamloops from 1999 to 2005. I offer it for the interest of anyone who cares about civic politics and our community, and who might be wondering — as we approach a civic election Nov. 15 — what really goes on in [...]

I’m from Missouri on this one, but at least it’s an idea

For publication in the Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008 edition of The Daily News.
Ideas are good, especially when it comes to candidates for political office. They tell us something about their priorities.
Murphy Kennedy is doing his best to steal the initiative from mayoral opponent Peter Milobar by attacking him and by keeping a reasonable stream of [...]

Behind Closed Doors — Life at City Hall: Chapter 2

This is the second in a series on my experiences as the mayor of Kamloops from 1999 to 2005. I offer it for the interest of anyone who cares about civic politics and our community, and who might be wondering — as we approach a civic election Nov. 15 — what really goes on in [...]

Why the Downtown Core Should Top the Election Debate

For publication in The Daily News on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008
I worry about our downtown.
I walk it every day, for one reason or another. The other day, as I crossed Fourth Avenue, a man was pushing a shopping cart over the crosswalk on the opposite side. Then he jaywalked through traffic and carried on down [...]

Behind Closed Doors — Life At City Hall: Chapter 1

This is the first in a series on my experiences as the mayor of Kamloops from 1999 to 2005. I offer it for the interest of anyone who cares about civic politics and our community, and who might be wondering — as we approach a civic election Nov. 15 — what really goes on in [...]

Green candidate welcome at Kamloops election forum

Three of the four mainstream parties have really stepped in it by refusing Elizabeth May a seat in the leaders’ debates. Technically, the decision is that of the TV networks, but it’s based on opposition from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
Stephane Dion of the Liberals is [...]

Who the heck is this Cathy McLeod person?

It’s not Cathy McLeod’s fault nobody knows who she is.
As of Saturday, she is officially the Conservative candidate in the riding of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo but, other than that, she’s a bit of of a non-entity in the community life of this city. There’s nothing wrong with that, though previous credentials in civic leadership are helpful in [...]