Thursday evening, Fusion, the networking group for 20-40 years olds, started off the serious stretch of the mayoral campaign with the first of a series of forums.
Fusion approached the event in its typically earnest fashion, with the conceit that they were interviewing the candidates for the job. They asked each into the room separately, and “interviewed” each man with the same basic set of questions: Why are you running? What’s your experience? What’s your vision/goals? Can you tell us a story where your talents came in handy? Like that.
I was hoping for some oddball, throw-’em-for-a-loop questions like “What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?” or “How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?” but the Fusion folks kept it on the straight and narrow.
Fusion planned the event some weeks ago and sent out invites to all the probable candidates. At the last minute Aaron Eisses, Steve Mackie and Robert McCormack entered by registering their names with the elections office. It’s unclear if Fusion invited the three, but there was an announcement that none had RSVPed, so I’m assuming they did. In any event, Fusion kept to the accepted invite list and wouldn’t let the three newcomers go through the interview process. McCormack showed up anyway, and Fusion announced that while he wouldn’t be allowed on stage, he was welcome to “network” afterwards.
People can think what they want of Fusion’s rejection of the three newcomers, but I think it was right. We’re talking about a mayoral campaign, after all, where probably over a million dollars will be spent on advertising, and where the three main candidates have been knocking on doors and meeting with community groups for months. It really can’t be considered a serious mayoral campaign, if you waited until the last possible moment to commit.
In any event, that left us with just three candidates interviewed by Fusion: Tom Martin, Mike Savage and Fred Connors.
The format wasn’t conducive to a clashing of mayoral campaigns, and probably not intended to be so. I don’t know how to say this, but there was actually something sweet about the innocence of the whole thing. The format encouraged each candidate to present himself without challenge, and so served as a pretty good intro to the campaign season.
There’s not a whole lot to say about their performances. Each did pretty good, I think.
Tom Martin sounded sincere, wise to the ways of the world and not afraid to call things as they are or challenge the prevailing order. He stressed that he would put qualified people around him, and listen to them. At times martin tripped himself up, but not in a negative way, more as someone in a genuine conversation.
Mike Savage presented himself, rightly so, as an experienced politician. I do think, however, that he came off as overly rehearsed. At the end of his “interview” he stood up and addressed the crowd directly, which was allowed and fair enough, but he was all over the map rhetorically, seeming to me anyway as promising all things to all people. I’ll drill down into that in a future post. But, that aside, I think Savage successfully underscored that his primary concern is communication.
Fred Connors has always been an energetic person with a forceful personality, but I’ve never seen him as energetic as he was Tuesday. Off the charts energetic. The format was designed as introductory, and Connors did that in spades, talking about himself and his experiences, especially as a north end entrepreneur.
With the limitations of the format—and of the questions—there wasn’t much of an opportunity to get substantively into the issues. And the candidates didn’t push, keeping in the comfort zone of personalities and picayune soundbites.
But while introductions are good, we need to get past this and into issues of substance. Even where issues were discussed Thursday, they were limited to the very narrow world of Fusion-friendly sensibilities; jobs and development. While those are important, we desperately need some honest discussion of poverty, affordable housing and what life in Halifax means for people who aren’t welcome at networking shindigs.
Here’s where we sit: Savage is clearly the front-runner, and if Martin or Connors are going to make headway, they’re going to have to challenge Savage directly. Savage of course will avoid making much in the way of real comment about real issues, precisely to make it more difficult for Martin and Connors to challenge him. So Martin and Connors should challenge Savage on that.
For his part, Martin needs to become a larger personality. He’s already done fairly well on the policy front, but he needs to deepen that and show us that he really cares about this stuff. I don’t know if that means getting visibly angry or what, but I want to know why I think Martin the man is the right person to implement Martin’s policies.
Connors needs to do the opposite, I think. He’s got the large personality, but needs to show us some substance on the issues, concretely. Connors made much of his success in the private world, which is indeed worth talking about, but now he needs to show us how his success can become our success.
This article appears in Sep 13-19, 2012.
Martin is already in trouble. He is on his 5th campaign manager. Someone should ask him why that is.
He says he will surround himself with good people and listen to them, yet he has a secret set of advisors who do not participate on his team. What he does is an end run around his team by doing this.
My experience with him tells me he is insecure and untrustworthy.
@TheZete: You sure you’re not talking about Mike Savage? I’m surprised there isn’t an oil slick trailing him wherever he goes, he is so slippery. I think Tim has this correct. Fred is a novelty candidate, Savage is a professional politician who will say anything to get elected. But Martin is the right guy among this bunch.
My word, it’s getting all dramatic in here.
Just the same, I’m going to risk the wrath of TheZete and say that I too was impressed with Martin’s showing at this Fusion event. Fred made some good points, but over all he seemed all over the place. Savage spoke very eloquently, aside from one asinine comment about steelworkers and inmates, and aside from his hilariously theatrical ending statement, but didn’t really give anything concrete… In short, he acted like a politician. I was impressed that Martin just directly responded to the interviewer, and gave no bs answers. The man’s got my vote.
These comments seem to suggest to me that Martin must be starting to worry some in the Savage camp. Up until now Savage has been operating on the assumption that he would win the election by default. I think it is great that there is a legitimate challenger in Martin. From the people I have talked to they are anything but decided as to who they will vote for. To be honest the impression I get from most I talk to is that they would love to vote to somebody other then Savage they just don’t know what their options are. Based on Martin’s performance in this forum I think some eyes have definitely been opened and hopefully going forward that will continue to happen. I think this race is far from over.
I saw the “debate” and met with the candidates at other events and can’t see myself voting for Savage. He really just comes across as another Peter Kelly, professionally dodging issues left and right (although he presents himself better). I like Fred’s energy, but there is nothing substantial enough to vote for there. Although I’d like to see more energy from him, I can’t help but think that Tom Martin is the best issue-driven candidate in this election, which is really what Halifax needs at this point.
Savage may be the clear frontrunner in name recognition, but that won’t last forever if he won’t take a stance on anything. I agree with Tim – the other candidates need to challenge him on this. I think Tom Martin can give him a run, and even Fred was a pleasant surprise.
Hi! I am Martin’s campaign manager. I have never supported a political campaign (officially) before. I am doing this now, voluntarily, because I know Tom is honest, hardworking and for the first time I feel like we could have a real Mayor that is in touch with us. What I saw last night reconfirmed what I know to be true and most people there knew it too! Although I respect Fred and Mike, Tom’s the right choice. Let’s have fun and rock the nest 5 weeks!
As a citizen who watched this “debate” I see Tom has drawn attention and with the most experience serving the public as a retired police officer and Homicide detective and all other experience, this is a man who seen it all and knows what needs to happen, to make life easier for those of us in the HRM. I see these comments and it has me feeling like the Savage campaign is getting worried, worried that Tom is the contender and will give him a run for his money, Toms campaign is going to keep running like it has since its shift in managment, its been stronger and will only get stronger.
Great event, Fusion got the 3 candidates on stage to start the ball rolling! Now where it stops only October 20th will tell! All the candidates had great energy and I like Tom Martin’s direct approach to the questions! He had the crowd’s attention and applause! Thanks to Fusion for setting the stage for what looks like a great start to the October run!
I thought this was a fabulous event put on by Fusion Halifax. The questions asked were straight forward enough…things that, in my opinion, the average person would want to know about a potential new mayor. I agree with a lot of Tim’s comments regarding the candidates’ answers….especially the point about Tom sounding sincere and not afraid to call it like he sees it. Not to mention that he had actual “answers”. Having the privilege of getting to know Tom over the past few months, I can vouch for his sincerity and passion for really making the HRM better for all of us. And as for showing how much he cares, I can vouch for that too! There exists in Tom a deep seeded passion for making positive change in the HRM. After all – still waters run deep!!
Tom Martin makes sure he keeps good, positive, supportive people all around him. I’ve been involved with his campaign from the beginning, and it’s a life experience I will never forget, nor would I ever want to. Like my friend below, this is the first campaign I’ve ever worked on, which is now the Ask4more family. The comments I see below, just prove to me and everyone else reading this, that Tom continues to make the correct decisions. Always maintaining an amazing group of good supportive people on his team. We currently have an outstanding group of talented individuals who are consistently inspired by the person Tom Martin is, and the change he’s going to bring to HRM when he becomes mayor. Tom Martin absolutely has my vote.
Hey folks, I’m Tom Martin’s son. I’m working on his campaign, and yes, I’ll be voting for my old man. Not exactly the secret of the decade haha. You all, not being his son, will make up your own minds – but if you read up on the candidates and get engaged in this process, I won’t be at all surprised if you vote for Tom too.
Wow @ below.
FYI – not a single comment below comes from someone on Mike Savage’s campaign. That’s for sure.
Savage never answered a question directly. He gave us a string of rehearsed sound bytes. And in case you missed it, he said the ship building contract is great for Halifax because cutting steel is a good alternative to prison. I’m not kidding. He said that. Savage is a career politician who has no connection to real people whatsover. Halifax doesn’t need more rhetoric and another old boy in office.
Tom Martin, on ther other hand, gave direct, thoughtful answers to the questions asked. And like Tom said, he’ll tell you the truth, even if you don’t like. Savage will say anything he has to in order to be elected. There’s a big difference between these two candidates and the first debate showed Tom is the guy Halifax needs as its mayor. Savage is the guy who’ll give us four more years of indicision, political favours, conulstnats and studies. Vote for Tom, folks! He’s the guy for the job.
@TheZete: You think I’m Martin’s son? Think again (or maybe just think for the first time). His son posted already and that isn’t me. I’m not involved in his campaign either, just impressed with the guy. In contrast, I read Savage’s website and all it says is stuff like “engage”, “encourage”, “partner”, etc – it’s all feel-good platitudes. It sounds like it was produced by an ad agency. The man needs to tell us what he stands for and what he will actually DO if elected.
Also, isn’t Mr. Sommerhelder working for the Savage campaign?
@ Bo, yes I am .. that’s how I know no one else here is. 🙂
Interesting observation that the 4th former campaign manager for T. Martin brings obvious truths to the forefront otherwise he would not risk his reputation on nonthruths. The messanger receives 8likes, 24dislikes on his comments???. Am I to interpret that 24 of Martins followers are blinded by the truth or just choose to ignore the truth. This concerns me. Are we that desperate for a mayor in HRM that we will ignore serious issues, and vote in the devil we don’t know. Is it that his followers would work to have him voted in no matter what issues may surround him!!!. Any average thinking individual can summarize that where there is smoke there is fire, most likely a fire we won’t be able to control. We all know from experience where there is one issue clinging to a politician there are many more. One should always step back and reflect on the message, research the source and the motivation. Don’t be afraid to ask the question, unless you afraid of the answer. History has shown us many times that ethical logical thinking people with great foresight stand alone only to be bullied by the majority of blind followers.
@Thunder Struck: If you’re so concerned with the state of Martin’s campaign, why not go in and talk to him and his team? Or if you think these questions that TheZete brought up are actually valid, why not ask Martin directly, either in public at a debate or in private by email or in person? Posting off-topic attacks just makes you sound like a plant from another team.
@Mr Haus. I can say with certainty that Mr Martin will deny anything you bring to him that he feels defensive about. That is why I left his campaign. When I told him what he was doing was wrong he could not accept reasoning but his own. Very inflexible and insecure. That is why so many campaign managers have left.
His financial management skills both personal and business are sorely lacking yet he refuses any guidance. Just ask any policeman about his feelings toward Martin and how he treated them and you will gain valuable insight into the man’s leadership skills.
I can say with certainty that Martin is a man of ethics and morals, his only motive for Mayor is to utilize his skills, knowledge and understanding based on his work experience to better HRM. It would be silly for anyone to think that there wont be Martin bashing in this campaign as the Savage team has been so strong with that the rhetoric and mud slinging. Martin has been the first to enter the race for Mayor Yes he has gone through some campaign magagers as a year is a long time on volunteer base, there was trial and error, error is gone. He is grassroot and doent have 200 000$ to spend like the Savage team has done so far. He also doesnt encourage his members to go out and hit oposition where it hurts as he’s not in to fighting dirty. Nor does he encourage team members to use scare tatics towards opposing campaign team members, I think it was said best, if you have a question direct it to Tom he will be honest and direct or save it for a debate… And on another note Tom doesnt have any secret political advisors, we all know of them, he is preparing to be a Mayor and thats what the advisors are doing…. Thanks
OK. I relent everything I have said about Tom Martin.
Go ask Sheila Fougere what she thinks about him. I wound presume you would rely on a siting city counsellors opinion. Or go ask Linda Mosher what she thinks. Trust either of those two?
I have been waiting for a number of days now.
Why does Mr Martin or anyone on his team not want to answer my questions?
Are the answers too hard to face?
You are a patient man. You are going to be waiting a long long time because I will bet Martin dictated to his followers not to respond to your comments in fear of more truths will surface. I can assure you ignoring your comments will not stop the truth from surfacing, it never does. Hold on to your shoe laces more of his true character will surface through the next few weeks. He is not what he appears. Nobody from the police department has spoken yet. I’m surprised no one in the media has picked up on this.
I don’t feed trolls, they’re a waste of everyone’s time.
ps. nobody likes a name dropper.