The district
District map:
(Click here for a written description of district boundaries.)
Candidates
Jackie Barkhouse
Council report card
Website
Twitter
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Email
Bill Karsten
Council report card
Website
Twitter: None
Facebook
Email
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Jim MacDonald
Website
Twitter: None
Facebook
Email
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20 questions from The Coast
Meet the human behind the politician: We sent the candidates a questionnaire, asking questions that are more personal than political. Here are their unedited answers:
Coast analysis
Due to a UARB ruling, there was a shotgun wedding between the old Eastern Passage district and the Portland Estates/Forest Hill area of Dartmouth, creating the new District 3. As a result, this oddly shaped district brings together two sitting councillors to vie against each other: Bill Karsten, who is in mayor Peter Kelly’s inner circle, will vie against the combative Jackie Barkhouse, who has increasingly defined herself as fighting the old boys network. We expect this race to get nasty.
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This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 1, 2012.
Heaven help the communities of Eastern Passage, Cow Bay and Shearwater if they support Karsten. He is on record as showing a complete disregard for the citizens of these communities. He chaired no less than two development meetings from which 90% of the residents voiced concerns over MPS changes that would allow unrestricted high rise and condo construction through “As of Right” development. Despite hearing such a high opposition from residents he voted in favour of allowing the amendments to proceed. So much for listening to constituents, and representing THEIR interests. At the end of the day Barkhouse gave one of her most passionate and inspired speeches at City Hall, numerous time stating she was voting not with her conscience but from what her residents were asking of her. The motion was eventually defeated. The faster we get the likes of Karsten out of City Hall, the faster we get rid of the Old Boys Club, and all the luggage it brings.
Jackie Barkhouse hands down is the person people need to vote for she is there for the people and is willing to stand up and fight not only over the big things but the small things most people would not think about like playground repair.
I don’t understand why this race is expected to be nasty. It’s not a race at all. Jackie Barkhouse is so appreciated for her work both in City Hall and out of it. She is a pro-active kind of person who looks at community building in partnership with its citizens. I don’t know much about Karsten except that he is not Jackie Barkhouse, frankly. Jackie is approachable, energetic, and plucky enough to stand up to status quo decision-making. She is a people person to the n’th degree. She ASKS for citizens’ opinions regularly and takes comments into account seriously. She will advocate for what’s right, not just for what’s right for city hall bureaucrats. In all my 30-odd years of voting, I have never encountered anyone more devoted to her job as a public representative.
Actions from the past will have a bearing on the future.
Karsten has been called out by no less than Councillors Sloan and Uteck for his under-the-breath comments while female councillors have the floor. In fact at one point, as reported in several media outlets, Karsten was challenged to “take it outside.” Last week he all but whined like a spoiled child over Barkhouse’s much lauded and needed transparency motion.
Can it be that Karsten is feeling threatened by a woman wrestling his seat away from him?
He better be careful: Canadian women now have the vote and actions will often be met with a justified reaction.
I voted for Karsten the first time he ran and was soon sorry that I did. He was acclaimed at least once after that. I really happy to see Jackie run against him this time so we can tro da bum out!!!