Baddwolf is not exactly truthful when it comes to the Moody Park Pool. As a matter of fact, the pool is in the process of being re built, after the former Kiwanis Pool was closed because of its condemned nature, inspite of the bleatings of a few community types and an attempt to blackmail the current mayor and council by dragging kids in bathing suits and parents into council chambers one night begging to let their kids be allowed to swim in a condemned pool. One person put it best, alluding to people begging to allow their children to play in the street.Mayor Wright is the 2 time incumbant mayor, who actually does a really good job at not being one sided or another, as any good mayor should be. 2 of the current councillors (Bob Osterman and Betty McIntosh) have decided to throw their lot in with a so called "electors organization" with a distinct RIGHT LEANING to it, called Voice New Westminster. Historically, slates haven't done too well in New West, and Voice is no exception, in my opinion. They will be somewhat successful IMHO, at the council level with the 2 incumbent councillors, but that's about it.
Voice's key people are defeated Mayoralty candidate in the last election, Casey Cook, who's know running for school board. And everyone's favourite also ran... Steve McClurg. Steve is used by Voice to point to the non partisan aspect of their slate, as he is the lone "NDP'er" on a slate that leans to the right. But looks can also be deceiving, as Steve actually was going to stand for the federal nomination in Burnaby New Westminster, but withdrew at the last minute. One could say he saw the light at the end of the tunnel, (that being a freight train called Team Julian) and opted to run civically.
Its shaping up to be a nasty campaign in New West. Voice has been vocal on a number of fronts, but not too positive on any of them. The present sitting council has (in my opinion) done a good job, though of course, as goes with any organization, not without hiccups here or there.
But nothing that warrants throwing Wayne Wright or the other councillors (perhaps excepting Osterman and McIntosh) out of office. There is alot of growth in the city, residentially, but there are problems around the industrial / commercial base. These are challenges that are being worked on, and will continue to be worked on through the election.
It's incredibly hard to unseat incumbent candidates. Last election there were 3 spots up for grabs, but for the following reasons:
1. Gerry Dobervoney got a promotion at work (City of Vancouver)
2. Chuck Puchmayr got a promotion from the electorate (MLA)
3. Casey Cook got his ass handed to him in the Mayor's race.
This time around, its the same councillors and Mayor running. And even though 2 of them had an apparent brain fart and are running with Voice, they are the only 2 members of Voice IMHO who have any shot of getting elected at the council level.
You'll hear alot of belly aching and ballyhooing from Voice about the "alleged" labour council endorsed slate. Let's hope that no one catches any Voice candidates seeking ANY endorsements whatsoever, lest they be called HYPOCRITES!!!
Whatever happens, New West is where the fireworks are going to be, and Baddwolf... GAME ON!