Reaction to Bratina announcement mixed

So what do Hamiltonians think about Bratina calling it quits after one term?. He’s only been Mayor for one term — but it certainly hasn’t been dull with Mayor Bratina.

There have been a number of flashpoints along the way from alleged bullying and council friction to luke-warm support for an LRT line. And there were some successes too — including a new James street GO centre, and a new McMaster health campus on the site of the old Education centre. And — like the record — reaction to the Mayor’s announcement that he will not seek re-election — drew mixed reviews:

“It’s always good to have someone young to come in with new ideas.”

“Quite frankly, I think it’s time Bob Bratina moved on. I don’t think he would have been re-elected this year. I think he’s reading the tea leaves and making a choice to get out of here while the getting’s good.”

“I think he’s done a good job so far. I hoped that he would run again.”

“I think he’s done a good job. And if he’s not going to run again, we’re going to have to have a good candidate to replace him.”

“Bobby’s a very nice person.”

“It’s a new world out there. All these hipsters out there, they should get involved but they just kind of want to hang around restaurants here — go shopping. I don’t think they’re into politics. I don’t even know if they know how to vote.”

Now you may be wondering about that last answer but he may have a point.
Of the 26 people we asked, five answered — two weren’t from Hamilton — and the rest either didn’t know or didn’t care about city politics. That’s almost three quarters of the people we asked.