Something’s “OFF” with the campaigning in Pickering. How can no one be running for mayor? No one for Ward 3 Councillor where there were 2 before?
This campaign is beginning to give off an odour of something’s not right.
Mayor Kevin Ashe
Mayor Kevin Ashe must have something else in mind rather than returning to the mayor’s office. He hasn’t registered. Could his ambitions lie elsewhere other than being mayor? The next higher position is Regional Chair and CEO of the Municipality of Durham, currently held by John Henry, 85 years old. It will be interesting to watch what Ashe does. Additionally, it will interesting to watch who steps into the breech if there is one in the office of Mayor.
All the other candidates with their eye on replacing Ashe in the Mayor’s office seem to be playing a cagey game too, sitting in the registration bushes without submitting their papers. Maybe it is time that some dark horse candidates throw their hat into the ring. There isn’t a name there right now which makes for an unusual campaign. The highest off in the City without one single candidate. Curious and interesting.
Ward3: Shaheen Butt, Dave Pickles
And speaking of “what are they up to?” candidates, what are Dave Pickles and Shaheen Butt up to? Ward 3 has neither of these two Ward 3 councillors registering? What are these two candidates dreaming of? Neither is a registered candidate for any office.
Butt, the shorter-termed councillor, what can he be dreaming of? Maybe he is not running again which would be a big surprise as he seemed to enjoy being in office over the years. Illness perhaps? Family priorities changed? Who knows, but it will be interesting to watch.
Now Pickles has been around for years. Could he be tired of the office? Or possibly tired of being at that level? Meaning, could he have dreams of a loftier position, Mayor even? Pickles has always seemed to be satisfied with his position as Ward 3 councillor, but maybe he has tired of being at that level for all these years? Here too, no one but Pickles knows, though we are all interested as to what he is going to do. Prediction…loftier heights.
The dark horse
The dark horse of the campaign and another candidate who has not registered is Lisa Robinson. Now there’s a bundle of volatility and capriciousness. Robinson has been the City’s angel of righteousness and a thorn in its side for a few years now. Angel in that she has spoken out loud for some good causes, equity, social fairness, assistance for the needy but at the same time, she has been the center of much turbulence at City Hall, so much so, that she has been suspended without pay. They don’t even do that in big league sports or other political arenas where they simply suspend but continue salaries.
It will be very interesting to watch what former Councillor Robinson does. She has too much in the political tank to stay out of the campaign, most would agree, but what is she eyeing politically? With her incendiary core, she also may have loftier ambitions. Again, she’s not registered, but dollars to donuts, she’ll be in this campaign at some point soon. What do you think?
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