There’s a renaissance of buffoonery at City Hall. Whatever goodwill towards fellow councillors existed two years ago, when this self-righteous clique was elected, seems to deteriorate daily. There are spiteful remarks and passive aggressive attacks, on social media and in front of TV cameras. Some turn the other cheek. More than a few dig in […]
Russell Walker
Posted inNews + Opinion
This week at city council
This year, we’re going to ramp up The Coast’s council meeting reporting. Instead of just one or two articles in the “dead tree” paper, expect much more analysis and comment of council proceedings, with a weekly on-line report posted in this space. This will allow me to touch on issues that I’ve previously ignored. This […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Councillor Debbie Hum bows out
I’m back from vacation, and vow to start election blogging every day. First, though, a bit of catch up. Hum calls it quits Councillor Debbie Hum sent out a press release Friday announcing she would not run for reelection. She didn’t answer her phone when I called today, but here’s the text of her release: […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Who is running for council in District 10: Birch Cove—Rockingham—Fairview?
The district District map: (Click here for a written description of district boundaries.) Candidates Kurt Bulger Website: None Twitter Facebook Email John Thibeau Website Twitter Facebook Email Russell Walker Council report card Website: None Twitter Facebook Email 20 questions from The Coast Meet the human behind the politician: We sent the candidates a questionnaire, asking […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Russell Walker
2010 grade: B 2009 grade: B- 2008 grade: C- 2001 grade: D Russell Walker “gets kudos for keeping ‘tax reform’ at bay,” I wrote last year, “but I don’t see him keeping these sort of grades into the future.” And sure enough, here he is, being dinged two letter grades. Walker’s most public presence comes […]
Posted inArts + Music
Russell Walker
2010 grade: B 2009 grade: B- 2008 grade: C- 2001 grade: D Russell Walker “gets kudos for keeping ‘tax reform’ at bay,” I wrote last year, “but I don’t see him keeping these sort of grades into the future.” And sure enough, here he is, being dinged two letter grades. Walker’s most public presence comes […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Russell Walker
2010 grade: B 2009 grade: B- 2008 grade: C- 2001 grade: D Russell Walker is still riding the success of his anti-“tax reform” work. Readers will recall that last year Walker single-handedly derailed the move to place transit taxes under a “tax reform”-like fee for service system, as opposed to the traditional assessment-based system. Walker […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Russell Walker, BIG improvement
Cell: 497-7215 Grade this year: B- Grade last year: C- Russell Walker’s been around forever, and knows what’s what. He’s generally right-of-centre on the issues that The Coast finds important—he’s for a third harbour crossing, he voted for the Chebucto Road widening, he unthinkingly supports huge budget increases for cops, whether warranted or not. But—and […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Candidate notes
The candidate filing deadline has passed, so the list is complete. These are my random thoughts on the Halifax councillor races, as I’m unwinding from tonight’s council meeting. I’m sure I’ll have more intelligent things to say over the next few weeks… Unopposed candidates: Gloria McCluskey, Andrew Younger, Bill Karsten, Russell Walker I don’t know […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
District 15 – Russell Walker
Russell Walker has been a councillor since the creation of the HRM, and he clearly understands how City Hall works and how to get results for his issues. He also has served as a strong representative to the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, an organization that could use more publicity. A member of the police […]