Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections:
Opening comments: More at the end.
To the main Judicial Inquiry page - to the Hazel McCallion page.
Comments by others to this web-page 10.
Toronto Sun - Apr. 16, 2010 - By Ted Woloshyn, TED.WOLOSHYN@SUNMEDIA.CA -
An election to die for: Woloshyn
How a dead man won a mayors race, and
how its food for thought for Mississauga
I have often said that people no longer elect new officials to political positions, but rather we toss the last one out.
Its the voters way of sending a message to politicians they have grown tired or distrustful of, sort of a Thanks for coming, now get out and dont let the screen door smack you in the butt.
The good folks of Tracy City, Tennessee, population 1,679, have just done that to their mayor, and boy did they ever send a message.
On Tuesday they chose Carl Robin Geary Sr. over the incumbent, Mayor Barbara Brook.
Whats truly amazing is Geary died back on March 10.
And the dead man didnt just sneak in; he won by a margin of 268 to 85. In other words he killed her. (Awkward choice of phrase perhaps.)
I knew he was deceased, I know that sounds stupid, but we wanted someone other than her, said Chris Rogers in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Rogers, who owns the local Lunch Box Restaurant, echoed the sentiments of the vast majority of citizens who went so far as to place Gearys election signs next to floral arrangements at his funeral.
If he were to run again next week Id vote for him again, Rogers stated adamantly.
So what causes a community to act in such a fashion? Why would they elect a dead man?
Because thats the only way they (the old boys) could get my job, said a somewhat embittered Brook.
To the best of my knowledge Brook didnt send flowers.
Ironically, the defeated mayor was appointed to her position in 2008 following the death of the previous mayor. Do you get the sense this town could easily be the setting of a Stephen King novel?
The mayors chair is now officially vacant, and four aldermen will select a new mayor. Whoever that may be, you have to think theyre gonna be a little spooked with this death thread.
Now this story prompted me to consider what would happen if a similar scenario occurred in Mississauga. I certainly mean no disrespect to Mayor Hazel McCallion, and pray no ill will befall her, but consider this: Although the mayor typically breezes through elections with 94 or so per cent of the vote, there have been fringe candidates who have challenged her.
Now, once the deadline for declarations of candidacy has passed on Sept. 10, only those who have declared will be on the ballot. And should Hazel not be able to continue in her duties, and withdraw from the race, one of those fringe candidates would become mayor of Canadas sixth largest city, with a population in excess of 700,000.
A whack job
Now Im not saying any of these candidates are incompetent, but you never know who may toss their hat into the ring and end up with the second largest vote tally. It is conceivable we could have a whack job as mayor, and I dont mean whats-her-name.
It does make you wonder what could happen.
Perhaps its time to revisit the Municipal Elections Act. As bizarre as it may seem, tiny Tracy City, Tennessee, may be the saviour of The Great State of Mississauga.
Comments by others, 10, to this web-page;
Chas April 30th 2010, 12:31pm
@ Mississaugawatch
Is that you Parrish ? Perhaps one of your moronic supporters ?
Listen closely. We are going to make sure you, and all those that support you, are DEFEATED in the next election.
Count on me being there every time you open your mouth in public to remind everyone what an egotistical big mouth fool you were as part of the lying thieving government of Jean Chretein.
Count on me reminding voters how you embarrassed us to our next door neighbour, & the world, by calling all 300 million Americans "bastards" publicly while a member of Canada's government.
Count on me telling all of them how you childishly ripped up a poster with our wonderful mayor's face on it because you didn't get your way.
Count on losing your seats !
MISSISSAUGAWATCH April 26th 2010, 12:37pm
Quote: “We’ve also established a community affairs team of three people who will be assigned to follow the judicial inquiry (into the mayor) and the upcoming election,” added Whitaker.
HAHAHAHAAHAAHhaahahahah *SNORK*
MISSISSAUGAWATCH April 26th 2010, 12:23pm
All you need to know about this "new" voice.
Quote: “The mayor fully embraced the idea.”
Rogers funnels the Party line through television. Now HAZEFM through radio.
"HAZE", all right. City TV and not CITY Radio.
You got a six-point documentary right now on Rogers called "Hazel". Last episode also had an additional documentary called "Our Mayor".
Then there's Woloshyn flinging the Party line here at the Sun...
And we can all look forward to Hazel McCallion proudly announce that she doesn't have to campaign!
Democracy inaction.
Matthew April 25th 2010, 3:52pm
I work in mississauga in a office ( which is really boring ! ) Def going to tune in and listen great to know we have a mississauga based station and can hear what is happening in Mississauga and not Toronto all the time.
rebecca April 25th 2010, 1:44pm
thanks Ted for the information - great article! good to know Mississauga has a voice on the radio....i am on the computer all day long - now i can know what''s going on in my city.
Monika April 24th 2010, 11:30pm
Nice article, Ted. I work at thehazefm.ca and need to clarify the following:
"They found their sportscasters through broadcaster Rogers Lajoie’s Triumph Sports Communications, a sports broadcasting school."
While Roger Lajoie is a man of many talents, Triumph Sports Communications is not a sports broadcasting school.
Our sportscasters (and me) are products of the The College of Sports Media, operated by David Lanys, best known for his reporting work at The Score. Roger Lajoie was one of our many talented instructors and let us know about opportunities at thehazefm.ca
Jim April 24th 2010, 6:33pm
At this point in time I am much happier to be from Mississauga than the socialist cesspool that is present day Toronto. Toronto is a beautiful city but it has been overrun by rats like David Miller and it will take a long time for the damage to be undone. In the meantime, Mississauga and other 905 cities will continue to take business away from Toronto. Mississauga is really no longer a suburb, because the number of people working within the city (or commuting to the city from Toronto or elsewhere) is huge.
Mississauga has no voice April 24th 2010, 3:24pm
Kate you are dillusional
Kate April 24th 2010, 10:34am
We do have a voice and it can be heard on HAZEFM! Mississauga is not Toronto, We are our own City and have many great things to offer, in transit, art and culture!
Mississauga has no voice April 24th 2010, 12:10am
Mississauga has no identity. No one from Mississauga travels the world and tells people he meets that he is from Mississauga. That city exits as a suburb of Toronto, and is what it is because of its proximity to Toronto. It has spent decade not needing (or thinking it did not need to) built transit because many of its citizens drive to TTC stations, and it thought it did not need institutions like art centers, musuems, tourist attractions, etc
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