[Image-1]
The Coast sent all 53 candidates running in HRM’s municipal election the same 15-question survey in order to help their residents and our readers know a little more about who’s running for council. Here’s what Warren Wesson from Dartmouth Centre sent back.
———
Why should residents of your district vote for you?
I’ve been self employed for for 25 years. I’m not in the boat. Much of the workforce in Nova Scotia is working for the government. I’m a small business entrepreneur. I understand intimately how small business matters to our community and things we can do to make the experience better. I am a father to three, two nieces and two granddaughters. I’m not even 50. I know what our kids need. Our families need. If voters are looking for big changes to expensive bureaucracy, they should consider me. If people want to see our HRM shift focus from design and architecture to neighborhood planning they should vote for me. We need some housing. Not luxury. No Class A. We need moderate- to low-income housing and need it badly. We need another soup kitchen in the district’s south end as well as a safe clean night shelter for all genders and ages. Affordable, accessible and in my back yard.
What’s something you wish people were talking about more this election?
Hungry people. Building more soup kitchens. Building more night shelters. Safe ones.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
Let me check. “Reuters business news.”
What’s the most accurate criticism someone’s made about you?
To my face? “Listen when someone is trying to help you.”
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Brian Adams opening up for Loverboy.
What was the last movie you didn’t finish?
Hardcore Henry
What pisses you off?
Being hungry.
What’s changed the most in your district since 2012?
Not much good. Really. We were inundated with this stupid Halifax logo all over our Dartmouth parks and buildings. That’s pretty goddamn annoying. No one likes it. If smoothing over amalgamation was the plan well whoops. Bad plan. We have a bad problem with traffic—needs calming. Getting very busy in District 5. Sewer pipes smell when the rain dries up in many areas. The whole area seems to be on hold for the Centre Plan. Let me say though after six long years we did get some affordable housing in on Wyse to be finished with a few years and we are very very happy about that.
What’s a specific moment in politics or your professional life that you really regret?
I had an amazing professional life. I have done very well as an entrepreneur but I regret not starting politics sooner. I want to give back to the community that gave so much to me and the community my children and grandchildren call home.
What’s the last thing that made you really laugh?
When we go campaigning my campaign manager, Barb Hawke and I laugh for hours on end.
What’s your go-to meal when cooking?
Whatever is in the fridge, hey? Fishcakes and burritos tonight. If I have money who knows.
What worries you the most about the Halifax Regional Municipality and the issues it’s facing?
Gentrification man. That is what it’s all about. Gentrification. Reno-victions. Kick out the low-income and working poor from the Urban Core. That’s the plan, man. That’s the brand. That is what it is all about. Halifax has a long tradition of destroying neighbourhoods and destroying communities. How this brand ever got any love is beyond me. “Looks at the name sit with their hands under their ass while a cast tract of housing gets torn down on West Street.” People don’t make the connection. This isn’t about aesthetics. The Urban Centre and the brand and the culture at HRM—a looming housing catastrophe if we don’t get serious about neighbourhood planning. The good new is we are working on the housing aspect. We are not giving up. We can’t.
How would you describe your opponents in this race?
Incredibly wonderful people whose company I am honored to have. Everyone gets my energy. Everyone’s taught me something. Over the years at community council the heavies in my District understand I am on a mission, elected or not.
What’s something you don’t know, but want to learn?
That is far too specific for me. Just one thing? OK. I would like to learn how to bake a deadly pastry.
What do you promise NOT to do if elected?
I know what the job of municipal councillor is. I won’t promise to do anything outside my ability to do it even if I wanted to.
Related Stories
15 questions with District 5 candidate Adam Bowes
15 questions with District 5 candidate Tim Rissesco
Everyone running in HRM’s election
15 questions with District 5 candidate Ned Milburn
15 questions with District 5 candidate Kate Watson
Poverty issues takes centre stage at Dartmouth Centre forum
15 questions with District 5 candidate Sam Austin
The crusade for Dartmouth Centre
15 questions with District 5 candidate Gabriel Enxuga
15 questions with District 5 candidate Derek Vallis
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2016.
Not every one in Dartmouth is upset over the HRM logo, so don’t think for one second you speak for everyone in Dartmouth, because you absolutely don’t. You and the whole ‘Keep the Dartmouth in Dartmouth’ group are an embarrassment to Dartmouth because of your willful ignorance regarding the new logo. It’s not a Halifax city logo. H/LIF/X means the HRM. Halifax means Halifax the city. It’s not a perfect logo, but the amount of screaming and crying your group has done has made Dartmouth look like a bunch of illiterate hillbillies. Thank God Gloria didn’t re-offer so you no longer have that platform to scream ‘DARTMOUTH’ on. I hope the next person who represents District 5 has the the common sense skills to figure out how to read a damn sign.
http://www.warrenwesson.ca is another way I can be reached. Thanks .. and thanks again Jacob for the opportunity.
WW
“You and the whole ‘Keep the Dartmouth in Dartmouth’ group are an embarrassment to Dartmouth because of your willful ignorance regarding the new logo.”
To that I would say, “so don’t think for one second you speak for everyone in Dartmouth, because you absolutely don’t.”
“River”, Warren may not speak for everyone in Dartmouth but he speaks for many. It is never embarrassing to stand up to bullies and fight for what you believe in. Community identity is certainly worth the effort. Tell me how you differentiate pronouncing Halifax vs H/LIF/X? There are now two levels of Halifax … the community of Halifax and HRM. How dumb and confusing is that? Halifax Regional Municipality is who we are as a Region; the word Regional ensure inclusiveness for all communities within HRM with their identities intact. H/LIF/X serves only Halifax … check out Destination Halifax to see for yourself. Also take a look at the points of interest on the http://Halifax.ca website …. somewhere near the end you will find something on a community outside the community of Halifax. Our tax dollars are paying for this glorification of Halifax. Unfortunately, what is spouted by the makers of H/LIF/X and some councillor’s, “What’s good for Halifax is good for the HRM” is simply and clearly not true. Unfortunately, it’s far more than a logo. Evidence is everywhere. Our communities are paying a hefty price for the makers of H/LIF/X obsession with all things “Big”, including their egos. Also, there are no cities in the Province of NS .. check it out for yourself.
Good grief, you wingbats are still droning on about the H^lif^x sign bullshit? Halifax has been the capital city of this province for ever, and you’re lucky we let you borrow the name. Sheesh, talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.
The only good thing about Dartmouth is its not in Halifax. Dartmouth is for me to poop on!
I couldn’t find the ‘Points of Interest’ link you mentioned, but right in the middle of the Destination Halifax page I found this: http://www.destinationhalifax.com/content/…
Fall for the City (Halifax Fall Bucket List) lists 10 things. Some of them are:
Farmers Markets (in Dartmouth, Hammonds Plains, Hubbards, Musquodoboit, Tantallon)
Alderney landing Haunted House (Dartmouth)
Top 5 places to enjoy fall colour (Shubie, Musquidoboit Trailway both listed)
Haunted Hollows of Hammonds Plains (Hammonds Plains)
Best Pies (Wooden Monkey and Humble Pie both listed – Dartmouth)
Hatfield Farms (Hammonds Plains)
Top 5 fun fall activites include Hatfield Farms, Bluenose Ghost Festival at Alderney Landing, and Nocturne (in Halifax and Dartmouth).
Seven out of ten referenced somewhere other than Halifax, and there was a great mix of Dartmouth, Hammonds Plains, Tantallon, and other places within the HRM.
There were a lot more sections and every one I clicked it was the same thing. Lots of of different places around the municipality being mentioned or showcased. Even places in other counties. That seems pretty inclusive to me for a regional municipality.
@Elizabeth: There are most certainly cities in Nova Scotia, there just aren’t any Cities.
To the comment, “You and the whole ‘Keep the Dartmouth in Dartmouth’ group are an embarrassment to Dartmouth”:
“don’t think for one second you speak for everyone in Dartmouth, because you absolutely don’t.”
To whom it may concern, I have known Warren for almost 30 years, as a fellow entrepreneur and business owner in Dartmouth, I can assure all citizens of our great community….if he says he will do it…it will get done! Furthermore, I can also attest to his never ending drive and dedication for any and all causes he aims his energy toward.
If elected, great things will be accomplished by Warren.
Thank you,
Dana Stoddard
I <3 Dartmouth.
It has the best view of Hfx…
To Baldurash… thank you for your effort. All I can say is that finally Destination HRM is finally getting the message to be more inclusive. I have to admit I hadn’t checked it for awhile .. I was sickened when a video on Clam Harbour Beach was in Halifax and minutes from Downtown Halifax … so wrong on both counts. There was another video featuring a female who loves Halifax .. surfing on Halifax beaches and trails (though not mentioned by name, the beach was Lawrencetown Beach and she was cycling on the Salt Marsh Trail) in her backyard or something of that sort. It is misleading and inaccurate information.