Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 20, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 local Winnipeg free press sunday june 20, 2004 she a quizzed them All made up mind of the nine mayoral candidates voter thinks Mihaychuk a the Best by Patti Edgar n Ine candidates. Seven Days. One voter. That sounds like a slogan for a reality to series maybe one with a name like extreme democracy or City Hall idol but for Winnipeg resident Linda Olson its just the typical frenzy of election time. Every election Olson makes sure she chats with each candidate personally before she makes her Choice. And with both a Federal and mayoral race going on at the same time the epidemiologist had to take a week off work just to make sure she could track every candidate Down. I like to be informed and from listening to debates i Don to always feel like i am getting answers to the questions i have she said. Its a lot of work though ? they re Busy you re Busy. But its Here Are Olson a impressions of the nine people running for mayor gleaned from the Campaign notebook she kept for the free press. Al Golden Al Golden presents himself with lots of passion and sincerity. He really is a Down to Earth Guy and he does return every phone Call she writes of the for Mer St. Vital councillor. Although or. Golden is Strong in most areas i just can not get past the fact that he has been convicted of a crime. Integrity and Trust were my num Ber one criteria when choosing the candidate for my Sam Katz the most remarkable thing that came through about or. Katz in my meeting with him and in everything i have heard about him is his can do mentality. He has proven himself to be a person of ideas and solutions Olson writes about the Gold eyes president. His Way of making plans on the Fly As things evolve is refreshing but i would like to know up front what i am voting for. Sometimes it is hard to find the real Sam Katz among the Glitz and Garth Steek the former River Heights councillor comes across to Olson As being very pro business and they disagreed about Urban sprawl one of her main concerns. He stressed that not everyone wants to live in an old neighbourhood or sur rounded by an old neighbourhood. He also mentioned that if people cannot get new houses inside the City they will move outside the City leading to residential use of Farmland and lost tax base for Winnipeg she writes. It is easy to agree with his rationale. However Winnipeg slow housing Den sity is Likely a significant reason for the High Cost of infrastructure and a reason Why Public transportation is not As efficient As everyone Hopes it could Shirley Timm Rudolph Overall the sex Transcona councillor struck Olson As having recycled and tired ideas. Is. Timm Rudolph has Many Good ideas for the rebuilding of old neighbourhoods by encouraging Home ownership providing lots at Low Cost for such groups As habitat for humanity and supporting projects which renovate old houses she writes. Her ideas for places to Park cars and then ride the bus were Good in theory but in reality they would Likely increase commuting to an unacceptable length of time for most Dan Vandal Olson was disappointed when she finally got to meet the former Deputy mayor. Or. Vandal presents himself much better on paper than he does in person she writes. With his Eclectic background he is Well qualified for the Job of mayor of Winnipeg. He has already shown him self to be a Champion for minority aboriginal groups and for revitalization of the North end and downtown. However i have not seen him show the same inter est in the rest of Gordon Kirkby while Kirkby pledges accessibility in his brochure he was one of the hard est candidates for Olson to track Down. But when she finally did meet the sex Saskatchewan my who has been pushed to the fringes in this race she was impressed. Gordon Kirkby has the most Well thought out plan of How to bring in All minority groups into the economic and social fabric of Winnipeg and he has a track record to prove that his ideas can work. In person or. Kirkby is an Artic ulate and knowledgeable candidate who backs up his ideas with examples from his own past Natalie Pollock Olson just can to relate to the ideas of eccentric fringe candidate Pollock but says the former local talk show Host brings her own unique something to the race. Natalie Pollock brings Colour to the Campaign and can be counted on to put a novel twist on any Issue Olson writes. Nelson Morrison while Olson likes the City employees Green ideas and his passion he goes overboard sometimes she writes. I believe that or. Morrison focuses on the environment at the expense of other Maryann Mihaychuk of All the candidates the former nip la won Olson a vote for having a Well mayoral candidate Maryann Mihaychuk left answers questions from voter Linda Olson who tracked Down All nine hopefuls to get their views on civic issues before deciding How to cast her ballot tuesday. Run Campaign and surrounding herself with smart people even though Olson sees the Odd Hole in her platform. I found that is. Mihaychuk gave me the most balanced plan for new development and rebuilding of old neighbourhoods Olson writes. She supports new development Only in areas that Are surrounded by existing infrastructure. Most of the candidates mentioned As part of their plan to rebuild the Infra Structure the need to negotiate Cost sharing with both the Federal and provincial governments. Is. Mihaychuk strikes me As possibly the Best negotiator because of her wide View of the issues past political experience and Abil Ity to present her argument Olson also likes Mihaychuk a ideas for helping the Young aboriginal population in Winnipeg. ;