Hamilton mayoral race heating up

(Update)

Now that October is upon us, the race for Hamilton’s next mayor appears to be getting underway in earnest.

Some of the candidates have been campaigning since January — others are just getting started, and according to a local newspaper poll, many in Hamilton have not yet decided who to vote for. None of the candidates I spoke to are worried about that however. They say nobody pays attention until the last couple weeks of the election. but now it looks like the campaigns are ramping up and it will become a lot more obvious in Hamilton that there is an election coming up at the end of the month.

Fred Eisenberger signs a taxpayer bill of rights. An idea he’d implement as mayor, one already used federally and in the U.S.: “Then we can be accountable for all the rights we’ve identified in this document.”

The three top contenders for mayor are all talking about how to attract new business in Hamilton, so that homeowners aren’t supplying most of the city’s revenue.

Fred Eisenberger: “It’s now 80 per cent residential, 20 per cent commercial.”

Brad Clark was at Hamilton Teleport, a company that provides internet and cell service in remote places like Africa and the Arctic. The CEO is a high school friend. Clark wants to recruit people like that to promote Hamilton: “He’s reaching out to 80 per cent of the African continent. Well, when Walt’s in Africa, he can also be an ambassador for Hamilton. Those trade missions will bring back investment in Hamilton. Talk about Brampton and Vaughan, that’s what they’ve been doing. And there’s billions of dollars coming to those communities because of an active mayor.”

Candidate Brian McHattie thinks that’s a good idea: “And I think I could do a better job than he can on that. He’s alienated a lot of folks in Hamilton since he’s been on council and the key is to have council working as a team.”

McHattie has been campaigning the longest, trying to expand his reach beyond the downtown ward he has been representing on council: “I’m really happy because they’re starting to recognize me.”

And that is important for many voters.

“Because of name recognition this time, yes. So Eisenberger you’ve heard of? Yes I have. And the others not so much? Not so much.”

Brad Clark has Rheumatoid Arthritis that is currently in remission. He said he is on some new medication.