District 09 – Jim Smith

Jim Smith opted not to talk with me or fill out the council questionnaire, saying he was disappointed with his C+ grade from last year. He also confused The Coast’s report card with The Coast’s Best of Halifax readers’ poll, and suggested that “one councillor” (i.e., Dawn Sloane) had stuffed the electronic voting box to win.

His loss, really, because I want to like Smith. He’s a soft-spoken fellow with a hint of the tragic about him, which in many people translates into empathy for the downtrodden. Unfortunately, judging from his council actions, he dedicates most of his time to the concerns of the Burnside business park and not enough to the needs of the low-income residents of his district. Not that the business park isn’t important, but he doesn’t appear to be very effective on that front, either. For example, the proposed Burnside shuttle bus remains in limbo, a testament to Smith’s ineffectiveness.

Grade: D Jim’s Cell: 229-8887

WHAT WE SAID IN 2007 (Grade: C+)

“When all of the dust settled after last year’s Sensations strip-club debacle, Jim Smith scored what he considered a major victory for his district. After the club was ruled illegal and ordered to shut down last July, Smith said he was “ecstatic” about the decision.”

“The next big challenge for Smith will be recovering from the blow of losing the Commonwealth Games, a loss that hit his district particularly hard. Bordered by two needy areas—Burnside Industrial Park on one side and failed Shannon Park housing projects on the other—the area would have gained millions in sports infrastructure had Halifax won the Games. Now, Smith has been talking about the possibility of Shannon Park becoming a landing point for the fast ferry, if and when the chance comes along. (Of the fast ferry, he says he’s “cautiously in favour, especially if it gets expanded to cover Dartmouth.”)”

“Remarks: Between boobies and evaporating stadiums, Smith had a stressful year.”

This article appears in May 22-28, 2008.