Breaking news

It's official - Larry Di Ianni is running for mayor. He kicked off his campaign this morning at Terra greenhouses in Waterdown. Read the full story here.

Thoughts? 

Comments

[Kathy]

Dan Jelly is rude. I think Larry brings a much needed boost to this campaign. Fred Icenberger doesn't have the personality to lead a two car funeral let alone a city of half a million people.
I think Larry is a strong candidate.

[Leah]

I will vote for whoever can deal with 2 things - horribly high property taxes and the arrogance (and bullying and wastefulness) of councillors. Things like stadium debates are meaningless to someone like me who is dealing with HST, hydro notices of rate increases, and job loss. It absolutely burns to watch councillors spend money on pet projects and ignore their own staff in favour of hiring fancy consultants. We need a strong mayor who can clean house and understand that stadiums and fancy signs over highways do not help people standing in line at the soup kitchen.

[Lulu]

Jelly has been inhaling toxic fumes I think. He needs to learn some decency. Thank goodness we have people like Mahesh and Glenn and Larry to add some lustre to this race.

[Samantha]

A poster is critical of Larry using Ken A as a campaign manager. I thought that it was all about the candidates not their managers. Who cares?

I like Larry because he has shown leadership and courage. Those who can't recognize that are Red Hill Parkway whiners.

[Sid]

Glenn supports an East Mountain stadium. He's a sprawl candidate just like Larry. Oh well, at least we have some other choices.

[Glenn Hamilton / Mayoral Candidate]

To Sid,
Correction!
This message is authorized by the Glenn HamiltonforHamilton.com Mayoral Campaign
I'm not a sprawl candidate. I live on Emerald St. N. I want the downtown renewed. The City's process that exists with the stadium now is insane. It should have been settled long ago. That is one reason why I'm running for Mayor, Poor execution and poor process on decisions. Some call this lack of leadership. Its worse than that, it embarrassing.
What ever happens. I will push for beautifying Downtown and our precious limited waterfront real estate so people will want to live downtown and to make it a great place like the Williams coffee pub area for arts, music concerts, beaches, fishing, boating, sports, bike trails, cafes, its my neighborhood too. Sorry Sid, I'm not a sprawl guy.
Glenn Hamilton, Mayoral Candidate

[Sid]

Glad to hear it Glenn, but the East Mountain site is the epitome of sprawl. If you support it, you are supporting sprawl. If you truly support downtown and waterfront development as you claim, you should reconsider your support for the East Mountain stadium site.

[Dave]

A number of gentlemen have put their hats in the ring to run for Mayor, and in response, the "thoughts" put forward on the topic are in large part bitter venting that borders on slander. At different times, I've done some small community work that involved both Mayor Eisenberger and former Mayor Di Ianni and found both to be interested and caring in the problem being addressed - something unlikely to result in votes or publicity. I would expect the same from anyone who holds the honour of being Hamilton's Mayor, and for the most part that's what Hamilton has always received. That's why I'll reserve my opinon on which of those two candidates that I consider superior. I'm not yet familiar with most of the other candidates, but I will pay attention to learn their views as the campaign unfolds. The leadership of the City matters.

At the last election, I took the time to attend an all candidates debate to listen to the platforms of the men and women running for Mayor. I came away with the opinion at that time that there were only two who had the knowledge, credibility, broad experience and political skills necessary to be considered and they ultimately ran first and second. Likely most revealing was the fact that both Eisenberger and Di Ianni had the good grace to keep their mouths shut while the other candidates put forward their ideas, indicating a willingness to consider other points of view - or at least allow the audience to. The same couldn't be said when they themselves held the floor. In the upcoming election, it's quite possible that another quality candidate will step forward (maybe its Mr. Hamilton), but it would be difficult to reason why when this is the kind of reception one receives for announcing a candidacy.

I no longer live in Hamilton, so I'm reduced to the sidelines as a Hamilton business tax payer without a vote. I could always make a campaign contribution but in Hamilton, such interference by business is generally looked on as falling somewhere between crack dealing and prostitution as an acceptable activity. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that voters actually dwell on facts and the issues put forward by all candidates and not angry fact deficient diatribes when making their decision this fall. That's what I plan to do in my new home town.

And just for the record, I run my business in Waterdown (no - I didn't attend Mr. Di Ianni's press conference) and those derogatory comments directed this way are indicative of one of the real problems that face this city and the new Mayor, whoever he or she may be. Until people throughout this city (including councillors) start to consider the needs, contributions and validity of all Hamiltonians (the real "North End" is now the border with Puslinch by the way) instead of perpetuating an "us vesus them" mentality, the municipality will continue to struggle and underachieve.

Lead, follow or get out of the way - just don't blindly whine.

[kathy Hagan]

I would not agree that the East Mountain is the best place for the stadium and I am disappointed that Larry will not voice his views west Harbor or East Mountain. He cannot sit on the fence on this. I will never vote for Mahesh because I feel he does not have the right motives, I did lean a bit toward Glenn Hamilton but will reserve judgement until the all candidates meeting , if he supports the east mountain location I will not support him. That leaves Fred and if he makes a strong stance I think he will have a chance.
The whole Stadium issue is only part of the ongoing problems plaguing this council but Hamilton is fast becoming a laughing stock.

[tony romano]

seems like former mayor Larry DiAnni and McGuinty have something in common, their both FENCE-SITTERS, you know, better stroke both sides cause I HAVE TO GET ELECTED. one would think second-time around you would have had enough experience making IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR HAMILTON AND ITS CITIZENS,so with this raging debate going on with our community right now it must be hard to take a STAND, hey Larry???????? another thing we might add we are not as stupid as you think- we LEARNED last time around MR.DiAnni you are UNTRUSTABLE, can be BOUGHT and LIKE TO GET INTO BED WITH THE BIG MONEY BOYS. geezy-sureezy Larry! isnt this bed getting a little crowded - just ask the likes of YOUNG,MITCHELL,COHON AND MERCANTI of course just to name a few.PLEASE LARRY, for gods-sake, cant you see we the citizens of Hamilton have enough on our plates with this Pan-Am debate and NOW YOU WANT TO THROW YOURSELF INTO THE MIXTURE! COME ON LARRY GIVE US A BREAK, will SOMEONE OUT THERE GIVE OUR CITY THE BREAK IT DESERVES?????????????? well anyway, dont think we are gonna BACKTRACK LARRY so you might as well take your own advice and do some GOOD by volunteering and spending more time with your family. THANKS ANYWAY!

[baffled]

hey tony, funny thing i noticed other comments on this site that were not stroking DiAnni mysteriously disappeared too! wonder where there going???????????????????? hes not even elected and the shifty-ness has ALREADY STARTED!

[DISGUSTED]

Let me tell you something citizens of Hamilton, lets make it perfectly clear to this Mr.Bob Young, there will be NO MILLIONARE BAIL-OUT, if you can afford to buy a team- then im sure you can afford the tools of the game as well? if your given an INCREDIBLE GIFT from the citizens of your community- shouldn't you thank them for it??????????????? asking for MORE THAN HALF OUR FUTURE-FUND AND COMPLAINING AND WHINING about it because YOU want to EXCLUDE people is downright DESPICABLE AND RUDE.

[Sid]

@Glenn Hamilton:

I just realized my mistake. I confused you with mayoral candidate Edward H.C Graydon who supports the East Mountain stadium site. My sincerest apologies for misrepresenting your opinion on this site.

[DISGUSTED]

why are we not SUPRISED the likes of Bernie Morelli,Sam Merulla,Tom Jackson and Margaret McCarthy are NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE WESTHARBOURFRONT VISION. THAT BIG BED OF YOUNGS JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE CROWDED BY THE DAY! hope YOU ALL dont fall out of it come ELECTION TIME, WE THE CITIZENS OF HAMILTON WHOM VOTE YOU IN WONT FORGET!!!!!!!!! COUNT ON IT

[TOTALLY FRUSTRATED]

MESSAGE TO EMMA REILLY,SPEC AND ITS REPORTERS! is a 150 million dollar proposal re: THE PAN-AM VISION from THE WHITESTAR GROUP delivered yesterday Aug 2nd NOT CONSIDERED A MAJOR OFFER WORTHY OF COMMUNITY COVERAGE ???????????????????? why? are private-investors NOT GIVEN BETTER COVERAGE OR CREDIBILITY, however, THE TICATS within an hour of todays Aug 3rd 4-30 news coverage CHALLENGES THE CITYS ZONING LAWS FOR THE STADIUM BEING BUILT, and they get front and centre reporting. WHATS GOING ON ????????????????

[I'II BE THERE]

you can count on me - WE NEED YOU, lets show these cats OUR DEFENSIVE LINE!

[SEE YA!]

EXTORTIONIST,EXTORTIONIST,EXTORTIONIST- BOB YOUNG IS AN EXTORTIONIST AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR PUBLIC PURSE. the cats have been subsidized by our city by tens of millions of dollars. they are a welfare case and to try an extort the city of Hamilton at the 11th hour is downright DESPICABLE. they are subsidized 1.3 million yearly and Hamilton makes absolutely NO REVENUE from them. THEY KEEP ALL THE REVENUES AND WE PAY ALL THE EXPENSES. to EXPECT our city to hand you over a blank-cheque IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. so bobby, take your 3rd rate team and your bullying ways and make heed to Quebec. do feel sorry for them though!

[seb]

I am hoping that Fred gets in again. He is what he presents, honest, integrity, vision and hard work - no $$self-interest and a well balanced life. I think he's done a great job, with city hall, lister building, getting the Pan Am games, Canada Bread, Tim Hortons, the award for economic development, the list goes on. What do you want? He did have a bit of a mess to clean up as well when he got into office.

[seb]

I remember the pork slaghterhouse debacle with Larry, secrecy, lies, underhanded dealings & wanting a PIG SLAUGHTERHOUSE WITH MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEES across the street & walking distanced to people's homes after quietly rezoning - and there was more too! Council was just as undisciplined when he was in office, he pretends it wasn't. City employees hated his autocratic controlling ways. His tax increases were what put us in this problem, I remember his 'sweetheart' deal with Liunha over Lister bldg & the faulty accounting that his poor right hand man took the heat for. I don't have to agree with everything my mayor does, I just want him to be working from a place of integrity, honesty and vision. This city is great and getting better - just look, at the growth in the past few years, never mind being surrounded by RBG, lakes, winebelt, education, research and healthcare facilities. We're looking good folks!

[seb]

Apologies, I didn't mean any disrespect to Maple Leaf employees, talking more to Larry's claims of increased employees and tax $$ which was not correct or honest. i am thrilled that Fred sealed the deal with Canada Bread and it'll be a great start to the Glanbrook Industrial Park and welcome Maple Leaf. Glad Fred could see the difference between putting a slaughterhouse in a residential & business area and a baking facility. Notice, no public, media or organization outcry this time? Planned growth, makes a difference.