Teresa for Mayor?

 

Teresa Cascioli  is the latest name to hit the mayoral rumour mill.
The former Lakeport CEO is considering running against Eisenberger in October's municipal election.

Cascioli is a hometown gal with the type of profile and personality that could give our incumbent mayor a run for his money. One of my colleagues compared her to feisty Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion (albeit a much younger Hazel McCallion).

She's also got the finances to launch a campaign -- Labatts gave her a cool $43 million when they bought Lakeport in 1997. She's also been very generous to her hometown through her charity. 

However, if she does decide to run, there are two big hurdles she'll have to deal with. First, she lives in Burlington. Any council candidate must live in Hamilton. Second, she's been involved in a high-profile lawsuit that could could cloud her campaign.

So, Hallmarks readers, what do you think? Would you like to see Cascioli run?

Comments

[Mary Louise]

I think coming from Burlington is an asset. She can show us how Burlington manages to off-load its social costs onto another municipality. Not having to live with the consequences of his decisions hasn't hurt our head of EcDev who lives in Kitchener, why should it hurt Cascioli?

[ed]

I'd vote for bozo the clown if he were running in this election. Teresa? sure! Maybe she can show staff that budgets over here or over there are really all the same darn budget. Its time to stop the yearly lie of how broke we are, and then promptly order 5 million in grass and trees.
There's really only one bottom line and I'm getting pretty tired of my property taxes constantly being attacked by that foreign land down the mountain.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Mary Louise: I was a forum here in the city and somebody spoke about the rising poverty levels there over in Halton. But as usual, the propaganda folks never reports these numbers in the MSM.

And yes why are they sending their problems to Hamilton, seems like there is problem over there, they do not accept responsibility of looking after their own people who struggle.

[Rick]

After hearing her on Talk820, I am convinced that either she really doesn't want to run and/or her heart just isn't in it...

Next!

[Tom Robertson]

I am sure the possibility of Teresa running for Mayor sent a shiver down the spine of our current Mayor and others who are thinking of running.

[lalala]

I certainly hope not. She is unqualified, if there is any truth to the lawsuit- unprincipled, and by the looks of these articles would be a great sockpuppet.

[Ricko]

As someone who was bilked out of 100k in the Lakeport CCAA proceedings, I can say with confidence that more were hurt by Fracassi and Cascioli than were helped.

Millions were stolen from honest small business people. Did she give any back when she received her check from Labatt?

I'm still waiting for mine.

We don't need this woman handling the affairs of this city.

Beware of the Devil dressed as an angle.

[MannyE]

She would be a fresh breeze coming through a stale Council. Maybe Hurricane Hazel she isn't, but perhaps Tornado Teresa she is!

Come on in Ms. C. , the water's fine!

[Hamilton Wants Cal]

Here's a really interesting post found on DiFalco's page. I edited it a bit so that it would not be edited here

"So, here we have Cal DiFalco. A Hamiltonian who has been very successful with this blog. He reaches out to different groups, and asks questions that noone has the guts to ask. He’s educated and has a good job. He has an accreditation in leadership and from what I have heard about him, is no push over. Not the kind of guy you’d want to cross with political B.S. and grandstanding. His views are very public and has written op pieces for the Spec.

The kicker is that everyday Hamiltonians are voting for him on draftamayor.com and I don’t think half his votes are actually getting shown, but that’s a different story. He is ahead of Eisenberger, DiIanni, Ferguson and will likely beat Jackson and Dan McClean, who, I can’t figure out why he’s up there anyway.

From a Hamiltonians point of view, he has the making of an excellent Mayoral candidate. But from the political hacks point of view, he’s a monstor. Why? Because everybody wants their own guy/gal in. Why? Because they are picking people who will serve their needs. Why? Because that’s the way Hamilton is! Noone with influence wants to back a guy who wants whats best for Hamilton.

Jackson, Ferguson, Eisenberger and Collins should be worried. Should they run for Mayor or stay in the safe cubby holes of their wards? Eisnberger should be less worried. If DiFalco runs, he can split the vote and Fred squeezes in or he can beat Fred and then Fred is toast. So the hacks who don’t want Fred back, will attack DiFaloc and thats what we’re seeing. BUT if he runs, he may have a good shot. The hacks will need to figure out if they want to back off and help DiFalco or attack the guy.

Casioli gets the front page today. She doesn’t live in Hamilton and gets the front page because some political hack “put a word in her ear”. Probably a corporation. DiFalco’s support is coming from Hamiltonians, but he gets no mention. Hang in there Cal. If we let people like you get run over, theres no hope. Get ready to be trampled.

Cal DiFalco 121
Lloyd fergusonm 108
Fred Eisenberger 92
Chad Collins 89

Only two in front of DiFalco are Jackson 145
Dan McLean 181

DiFalco has only been up for a few days and already is ahead of Ferguson, Eisenberger, Collins, DiIanni.

Cascioli - you're out of your league. DiFalco all the way!!!!!

[P. C. Moore]

How do you go from being an employee of the H-W Region to owning Lakeport Brewery in a few short years?
Where did all of the money come from?
Something doesn't smell right about that deal, wouldn't trust her to run the City of Hamilton.
We would be better off courting David Braley, Bob Young, Ron Joyce or someone who made a success from hard work and honest dealings. Probably couldn't afford them though.

[robbie]

I think Cascioli is testing the water on her own. If the city needs a great business leader to run for mayor, why haven't any of these people been contacted?
Don Pether
John Mayberry
David Braley
Ron Foxcroft
Peter George
Mark Chamberlain
No one can deny the fact that they have all accomplished a great deal in the private sector. Some of them have been working behind the seen to make things happen. Why not take the next step and run the whole show.
We are setting our sights too low with Cascioli.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Robbie: How many people in this list really care about those who struggle.

I have personally met one of the people, who seems to have a good understanding of the challenges of those who struggle need and I do know that another one enacted policy that gave away good paying jobs to be contracted out, where wages are very low, no benefits, where these workers would have a very hard time ensuring their rights would be upheld under both employment standards and occupational health and safety.

Maybe a good gauge, would be to ask the employees of these private industries to see how they feel. If some of people treat their employees like crap how do you expect that those who struggle would have a voice.

Since poverty is a major issue in this city, I think the questions I ask are very relevent.

[Dan Jelly]

Cascioli doesn't live here. End of conversation.

draftamayor.com is a big joke by the way. It's meaningless when the current leader is advertising it on his blog and other individuals listed aren't going to even run in the race. It's an amusing toy at best.

[warren shannon]

Teresa is well educated, worked for the City and knows the culture and the need to correct it.
Sucessful in saving an insolvent corporatiion (just what the City needs).
Get on board Hamilton, your ship has just come in.

[Tom Robertson]

P.C. Moore...If she could accomplish that in a few short years imagine what she could accomplish for the city in one term of office. I'm sure a lot more than this current bunch of council has in the last 10

[David]

I hope Teresa will run- the other way. Stay in Burlington Teresa. We don't need a Teresa Palin

[Will Smith]

Interesting that Teresa Cascioli would be metioned as Mayor for Hamilton. The Spec really should perfom a deep dive from cradle to grave on the whole
Fracassi/Cascioli relationship, there must be more there than meets the eye. Lakeport was orginally bought with blood money, from Phillip Enviromental Services and here were are years later thinking she is a trail blazer. My hypohesis is that the law suit is really about a back door deal gone sour.

My second hypothesis is that the true value of Lakeport was not in the $24 for 24 sales stragtety; this helped, however the true value of Lakeport was in a grandfathered clause from Henniger Beer in the 1960's when the introduction of the stubbies allowed for each Brewery an allocation of beer bottle returns. Did you ever notice that Molson's, Labatt's and Lakeport bottles are exactly the same. Oh and it was a former employee of Labatt she hired that pointed out the value in the bottle returns.

No question she is a shewrd business person; a visionary or leader don't think so. Remember everyone; the Mayor only represents one vote on council and it will take a true leader to corral/herd the balance of council to vote in your favour.

Look at what the present council is doing to the current mayor.

[ERIC]

AS A PAST EMPLOYEE OF TERESA I WOULD STRONGLEY DISAGREE ON HER RUNNING FOR MAYOR HUGE STEP IN WRONG DIRECTION SHAME ON THE LOCAL MEDIA FOR ONCE AGAIN GIVVING ASSISTANCE TO HER CON OF THE MASSES

[Markalanwhittle]

Teresa isn't a grassroots candidate, Cal DeFalco is.

If she turned down taps from Federal and Provincial politicos, why on earth would she want to live in a Condo downtown, or something similar to meet the residency requirement of the Municipal Elelctions Act?

As far as trial balloons go, this one won't take flight, too much baggage.

At least it got some Hamiltonians thinking about this cities future, and who we need to lead it.

In a word, DiFalco.

[Pete Bold]

Mark W, the results on draft a mayor aren't there anymore cause it showed difalco in the lead. He's the threat cause he represents grassroots people of Hamilton. Run Cal!!!!! You are a great Hamiltonian!

Peter the Bold

[MannyE]

I wonder how many of these bloggers dissing Teresa C. are just trying to discourage her from considering a run; and how many are tied to the current administration? Probably a lot.
As for me? I am independent but think a successful person who is donating to the city shouldn't be pestered until she or he is officially in. And this site only encourages the malcontents to keep on malcontenting, I'm afraid.
Pay no attention Ms. C. Most Hamiltonians don't live on the blogosphere like some of us do. I hope you at least run. The voters will do the rest.

[Jay]

I personally won't vote for a multi-millionaire CEO as mayor of my city. We need someone who is on the same level as this blue collar lunch bucket city. And for my vote, it takes alot more than a gaudy purse full of money to be part of this city on that level.

She's already shown her colours when she sold up to big label business. I wouldn't trust a single move she does. Same way, I didn't trust Larry. Nothing but big business scam artists, out to secure the next opportunity. Even Foxcroft worries me. You know, it's easy to do charity work when you have money flowing out of your ears, and are paying 100 employees to run your million dollar corporation. I have more respect for a broke housewife giving $1 to a charity than one of those moguls throwing a pile of tax savings into every charity that will make them look good. That guy has his nose stuck in every damn photo opportunity he comes across. Swell Guy. Anyways.. Thats another rant.

Fred might not be perfect, but he shovels his own snow, and understands what it's REALLY like to be part of Hamilton. Morrow was the same. Those are the type of peopl we need as Mayor.

As long as those type of people are running, They will be getting my vote, regardless of what stupid party they are members of.

[Tom Robertson]

Teresa has a successful track record in the business world that she would bring to the city. Her hands on management style is what this city needs. She would not be intimidated by staff and would have no hesitation to replace those that are not doing their job. With the probability that most of the current aldermen will be back she is a strong enough person to end the dysfunction on council and keep them focused on issues that really matter. I am sure most of the opposition you will see to her running will come from city hall as they have all become too comfortable in having things their own way. To the number watchers out there the Draft a Mayor site is up and running with her name just recently added to the list. She has already been given 35 votes while Mr DiFalco only went up 9 and his support has dropped 1.5% down to 15%. The Spec poll of readers has given her a 64% approval rating to encourage her to run. She has said She will announce her intentions to run in March. Will Mr.DiFalco have any intentions to declare whether he will stand as a candidate soon.

[Mafiabuster]

Cascioli will not run. Trust me.

I call upon the honest journalists in this town to do the research and expose this lady for who she, and your ex- "friend" (Fracassi), really are.

[Hamilton Hero]

DiFalco just beat Jackson.