Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 27, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba A8 local free vital by election Golden past pops up in race vital hopefuls focus on taxes and roads by David Obrien affordable crime reduction and Road repairs Are the main issues being served up by a smorgasbord of candidates in the vital civic but former councillor Al Golden conviction for income tax evasion has been a pervasive theme throughout the Cam Only one candidate has made an Issue out of Golden troubled but the other hopefuls claimed it has surfaced regularly at doorsteps and in the Coffee Golden is believed to be a f Ron Trunner based on the overwhelming name recognition he has built up during 12 years on but if Lawn and Boulevard signs Are an indication of who working the then Gord Steeves is a serious challenger for the which will be decided a lawyer who has built up his own name recognition As a vital school trustee since said More than 100 volunteers have plastered the Ward with More than 400 signs with lots More to forced to quit after being sentenced last month for income tax Eva Sion last said his Campaign is based on personal Contact with the Resi dents Hes represented for 12 Steeves said his Campaign is based on Ward such As the need to twin Dakota Street and Annes Road South of Bishop Grandin Steeves said the people of vital have told him they fear going out at we have to look at police reaction times and whether theres enough police officers on the he Golden said Hes also concerned about infrastructure issues in the but his 1 goal is to empower the people to solve their own problems and take control of their Community swimming pools and Bob said he has three objectives a major reduction in prop erty taxes Over the next four scrap the proposed garbage Levy and build a better business weve heard rumblings at City Hall about reducing property but win nip Eggers want to see real said chairman of the creative arts department at red River College and a former broadcast Ken a City assessor who took a leave of absence to run in the has also made crime a major Campaign Desrochers said he supports the cites efforts to lower but he noted the City could increase its savings if it encouraged volunteers to take Over some such As improving and main Taining neighbourhood greens Marcelle a lawyer and for Mer civil is promising to involve residents in civic planning improve Public transportation and increase Library and recreation Les a 59yearold landscape said he entered the race partly to ensure that Golden want reelect have run and if in elected i want to change the Law that allowed him to run Shanu who helps run Deens restaurant and plays Drums in a local said he has avoided making promises because he believed the Public has become cynical about politicians bearing Sarah is proposing lower transit rates for seniors on fixed pen students and minimum wage a bartender at the Norwood legion for 16 said she is also concerned about water Quality and the candidates Les Sawatsky age 59 occupation landscape con three grown children from previous main issues the Only Candi Date to make Al Golden an Issue in says he wants to represent the people efficiently and Ken Desrochers age 47 occupation assessor with City assessment married with one main issues crime and says Community participation and volunteerism Are keys to a safer Marcelle Marion age 49 occupation bilingual former City employee and Federal civil servant who recently became a divorced with two main issues wants to involve residents in civic planning decisions affecting their says Library and recreation services need to be Robert Mcgregor age 40 occupation chairman of creative arts at red River College and a former producer with sky married with one main issues major Cut in property improved business opposes proposed user fees for garbage Al Golden age 54 married with two occupation former City councillor for vital for 12 main Issue says Hes run Ning on his record As a councillor who returns his phone Calls and represents the needs of the Gord Steeves age 32 occupation lawyer with Alexander Mackenzie Law vital school trustee since no Chil main issues wants major Road repair and expansion projects undertaken in says residents want More action taken to reduce Shanu Deen age 32 occupation works in family restaurant plays Drums in local band single main issues promotes his ability at resolving conflicts and finding refusing to accept Campaign Sarah Kitcher age 46 no Chil Dren occupation bar tender at Norwood legion for last 16 main issues lower bus rates for Stu dents and mini mum wage wants City to move faster in building million water treatment n All 200 caravan the Auto mall of Manitoba Bishop contribution continued from Page a1 to get a schedule for the seniors Are told to Call he said he funds some Golden retrieve expenses out of his City Council but he refuses to say what it costs to run the local businesses donate Batter ies or Golden Volunteer bus Driver Al Herbert said fuel and daily expenses add up to about a but before the service got the new maintenance costs reached As High As Les Sawatzky who is also seeking the vital seat claims that Golden uses the bus service to win its absolutely Sawatzky you might As Well go Over and flip a Bill in everyone on that Buss hands and if you vote for you can have the whats the difference Sawatzky said seniors across the City deserve a Doort door bus but it should be funded from the cites transportation not linked to an individual but Golden said the year round buses Are his personal contribution to the generation that built Winnipeg and the ser vice will continue whether or not he is As Long As Ive got a breath in my body and a dime in my Bank that bus will continue to it has nothing to do with me As a City coun he adding he could earn More if he was not a City when he was invited to speak at a seniors residence last week about the 5 Golden said he told residents he did not want them to vote based on their feelings about the bus ser a photo of a Golden retriever bus was included in Golden Campaign literature for the 1998 municipal this Many of Golden Large Campaign signs Are near seniors complexes where Advance polls Are being held this spokesmen for local seniors groups refused to go on record when asked Why seniors Back he has the big bus that is very visible and seniors see one woman if they dig deeper in i dont think they think the same half a dozen elderly women inter viewed by the free press yesterday at Appleton estates As they waited to Board a Golden retriever bus said they intended to vote for most referred to the bus As their main but one woman said she would have voted for Golden i would Admire him for what he does for the the women said they typically donate a loonie to help cover costs every time they ride a Golden retriever Golden does not accept Campaign con but supporters Are Welcome to donate Money to the Golden retriever the names of Campaign donors Are available for Public scrutiny to prevent conflicts of interest at City but no such rules apply to the nonprofit corporations do not have to file financial reports with the contractor Norbert Hansch said his company helps other City councillors with their election but Golden says when people have asked me where do you donate to i nor Mally he just wants Money for the bus to keep it businessman leads Campaign against Golden a Winnipeg businessman has been Lead ing a grassroots Campaign dedicated to defeating Al Golden in the vital Michael owner of m2 Engi Neering and other properties in said he paid for an eight Page tabloid that documents Golden political and Legal the called the vital is composed of stories previously published in the Winnipeg free press and Winnipeg Mark said his vital grass is determined to defeat we feel it is important that people Are aware of what has happened to Al Golden Over the last three or four Mark Mark said he is not working for a particular although he has rented Campaign space in his office building to Gord considered the strongest threat to Mark said Steeves was not involved in the so called grassroots Campaign and Steeves said yesterday he Doest even know Golden said he has opposed Mark on property developments in the past and that what this is All Mark refused to say How much it Cost to print and distribute the and he say How Many members Are in the grassroots Coupon ;