Craig faces challenger in Cambridge mayoral race
Feb 3rd, 2010 | By Debbie Vitez | Section: 2010 Municipal CandidatesThis AMAZING NEWS RAN IN THE KW RECORD.. your comments below
CAMBRIDGE — There’s a race for mayor in Cambridge.
Three-term councillor Linda Whetham is running for the city’s top elected office against three-term incumbent Doug Craig.
“We need to take this city bask to basic issues,” said Whetham, who has represented the North Galt ward since 2000. “There is too much focus on the city paying for grandiose projects to please a small number of ambitious businessmen.”
Whetham registered Tuesday to run for mayor. Craig registered Jan. 4.
Whetham opposes the city’s $6 million contribution to a city-owned theatre that will be operated by Drayton Entertainment. Nor does she want the city spending any tax money to bring a travelling version of the Venice Biennale architecture show to the banks of the Grand River.
Whetham fears Cambridge is heading for more debt after 2010 to maintain basic city services, as the city runs out of money because of misplaced priorities.
“I would focus on building a couple swimming pools we need, a couple of recreation centres. We are the second largest city in the region and we don’t have a proper recreation centre.”
Seniors have been ignored in their desire for a bigger, better recreation centre, she said.
Whetham said she is “more than prepared to proactive and positive . . . approachable and compassionate to all the city’s people.”
When asked if that was criticism of Craig’s style, she said: “I’m not attacking the mayor. I don’t want to do that. I want it to be a nice, clean campaign. I’m more concerned about the tax dollars.”
Craig took his gloves off after hearing her campaign comments.
“Over the years she has simply voted against everything. In the 10 years she’s been on council she’s never brought anything of substance to the table.”
Whetham complains her growing ward gets few city services, but doesn’t do anything to try to remedy the problems, Craig said.
“She can’t even deal with her own ward. I don’t know how she’s going to run the whole city.”
Nor was Craig impressed with Whetham’s push to partner with Conestoga College by building a city recreation centre there.
“I made that suggestion months ago,” Craig said.
The city helped Conestoga by holding land along Highway 401 as it appreciated in value by $5 million, Craig said, then sold it to the college at the original purchase price for the expansion into Cambridge.
“If we were to take her idea of giving $5.7 million to Conestoga, we’d be raising taxes 10 per cent this year. We are already partners with Conestoga.”
Whetham said she wants to “break down the barriers” between Cambridge and Waterloo Regional government.
“I’m committed to keep Cambridge’s identity, but I want to work with the region,” she said. “I just think the mayor should get along up there.”
Whetham has never stood up for Cambridge’s autonomy, Craig said.
“She has no record on that. She’s never been to the region to make these comments.”
Whetham’s election website is: www.lindawhetham.com
Craig’s website isn’t ready yet.
link to story
http://news.therecord.com:80/news/local/article/666593
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I am stunned.. so won’t write anything this morning.. I am way to busy doing the happy dance..LOL
But I see His worship is wasting no time verbally beating up Linda. ( Your days are numbered your worship)
CONGRATULATIONS LINDA.. I am over the moon at your decision.. I have to admit I didn’t see this one coming.. and it was a welcome surprise..We need a change..
Comment by Craig ” She can’t even deal with her own ward. I don’t know how she is going to run the whole city”
This is a totally uncalled for nasty comment. I was truly offended by this and I am sure that the people who voted and elected her into office 3 times in a row feel the same way !!!!!!!!
Craig is nothing more then a bully and cry baby.. I have seen him react to the illness in Preston
with ” Not my fault”
Two people died on the 401 over pass in Hespeler, due to bad planning..
Cry baby Craig.. in the news with ” NOT my Fault.”
He has not taken responsibility for a dam thing..
Now it’s time Cambridge .. Lets show him how we really feel about his cry baby antics
( no computer break downs this election) and if they do.. We will count the ballots by hand..
The above is my personal opinion
No surprises here. Linda has been saying she would run for mayor for many many months. I’ve just been wondering when she would make it official. Linda has always wanted more than a Ward counsellor’s seat (remember she ran against Gary Goodyear to try and get her Conservative Party’s nomination for MP). No surprises with Craig already trying to take her down with his special type of personal attacks. Business as usual for all concerned.
Time for a change…….You have my vote Linda !!
YES, YES ,YES……..I will fully endorce the new candidate for Mayor !!!! Lets get rid off the Old Fuddy-Duddy and relenquish it upon the City, a new and wonderous day, after all the votes are in and say goodbye to Douggie……
Change is whats needed for the betterment of Cambridge society, and away from CRAIG-O-VISION……..
I’m not endorsing anyone until all the candidates have been declared. However, “time for a change” is so true.
Good point Margaret…. I agree with you…..
Just seeing someone Qualified signing on to run for Mayor, got me excited.. lol
But you’re right …in all fairness to those who have yet too throw their hat in the ring..
I will try to control my happy dance..lol
I don’t know of Mrs. Whethams track record, but I do know that the city of Cambridge cannot afford another term of Commander and Chief Doug Craig. The entire political situation in Cambridge is much like the Toronto Maple Leaf hockey team, as it will be many years before this city sees any degree of success.
Linda Whetham, in my opinion, gets an A+ for trying to be a “Guardian of the Public Purse”, which is the description of what a council job is supposed to be. Unfortunately she has been constantly outvoted when it comes to spending on unnecessary frivolities like glass links at city hall, Drayton Theatre’s and Venice Bienniel’s and the latest 375,000 streetscaping plan for downtown Galt.
Glad to see someone throw their hat into the ring….this was a nice surprise this morning when I opened my mail from Sunny Puerto Rico…my what can happen in one day.
Craig knows Linda is a huge threat to him, so he does “the gentlemanly thing “…by slamming her.
coming out of the gate..
She was only one vote..and we all know where the majority of this council voted.. Proof is in the pudding..
At least her and Rick Cowsill had our backs (for all the good it did)
Craig wants to hang on to his gravy train, and ego boosting job.. But you forgot one thing Mr Mayor
You were voted in for “Us” the citizens of this city.. Not for your own ego boosting gain
Way to go Linda.. stay on the high road.. Run a clean campaign.. and leave the bashing to me
It’s interesting that somebody here called Linda Whetham a “Guardian of the Public Purse.” It seems that http://www.hespelernews.com
has a different opinion. Here’s their quote:
“The potential candidate with misguided illusions of winning is none other than a member of the current council. She is also a member of the notorious Whistler 5, its Linda Whetham.”
I was astounded to read the comments from Mayor Craig in the article in the Kitchener Record. Do we really need someone who behaves the with less maturity than my toddler running this city any longer? I realize that politics can be a dirty business, but trying to discredit your opponent the second that she announces her candidacy? Perhaps he should keep his opinions (that’s right - opinions, not facts) to himself, and start working on his campaign. He is definitely NOT getting my vote!
As for the aforementioned quote from http://www.hespelernews.com….I think it is important to note that this comment was taken from the “rumours” section of the website….yep credible journalism there!
Go Linda Go!
It is true that Linda was part of the so-called “Whistler 5″. But it is also true that, as proven time and time again, the Hespeler “News” will say anything (true or untrue) to promote Mayor Craig. I don’t even visit that site anymore because it is just one person’s (very) biased opinion, without substance. I don’t have a problem with anyone voicing their opinion; but put your (real) name to it when you do. But, hey! That’s just me.
Anyone living in Hespeler knows who it is, and we take it for what it is. We don’t get our short and curly’s in a knot over it.
Its about time.The times maybe a changing in this city.and its about time. Too long for a mayor thats not in contact with the tax payers.We need new representation on the whole council.
James, I know who he is too. But P. doesn’t like to put his name behind his venom. So who am I to ‘out’ him? Glad to know others in Hespeler (and all over the net) know his agenda (and name) too!
T. Hipel, you are the one who really has it right…….Cambridge needs a whole new council (except for Rick Cowsill). That’s IMHO.
Dear Margaret Barr, I fully agree with you. Cambridge does need a entirely new council. There is something seriously wrong with the makeup of our present council. They have absolutely no concern for the cities growing needs of seniors, and they have some strange obsession to control how families live within the confines of their own home. It is worse than communism. Many of the councilors also seem to be obligated to “kiss the gritts” of commander and chief Doug Craig. If this was Kitchener or Guelph, we would have many intelligent people throwing their hats in the ring, but here in Cambridge we’ve become a joke, mostly due to Craig’s behaviour over the past few years. His reputation as being a bully has put him on the same level as OPP Chief Julian Fantino. Be sure to attend the court case on March 31st, when Craig will face questions about his harassing Cambridge home owners.
If Cambridge is a joke then why are you still here? Again you attack the citizens of this city because we don’t buy the entire story as we have heard it. You have started to sound like FOX News, the same old story with a different bent. I for one am sick of it, and I think you should just let it play out in the courts. I have a Mother who is 86 and in the next 4-5 years may have to move in with me, as such I have looked into the issue and have no problems with the asking price, it is not much to pay for a little piece of mind. As for those who rant and rave about changing the council….be careful what you wish for. Oh, and I don’t hide behind a fake name from Robot Chicken, or am I related to anyone running for Mayor!
Hi James, if you knew the problems that my family has had against the city it would make your head spin.They all stick together and can’t admit when they’re wrong, but find some excuse to get rid of you. My family has been here for over 100 years and we’re not leaving. It’s time for a change with the whole city because they are not doing what tax payers want. There is no vision to lead this city into the future. It is time for a change. It can’t get any worse.
Mr/Mrs Hipel, I was not addressing my comments to you in particular, and i understand people do have issues, lord knows I have had a few as well. My point was more the fact some people want to be condescending to the rest of us because we don’t go around yelling and screaming. And to be honest, I have heard this same refrain about changing Mayors, council etc for over 30 years and it becomes the same old, same old. I hope this time things do change, but I seriously doubt it. And yes, I do vote in every election.
Thanks James. The problem with the city is everyone complains but no one does anything about it. Our only chance is when an election takes place and you can do something about it when you vote.People who dont vote should not complain when bad choices are made.So please everyone pass the word go and vote in the next election, its one of the few things you can still do.
James and T, I think the folks who do the ‘yelling and screaming’ probably do vote. So do the ones who have an interest in maintaining the status quo. It’s the people who don’t pay much, if any, attention to municipal government that don’t get up off the couch on election day. We have only a 19-21% voter turnout in municipal elections. Sad, but true.
I have a neighbor, a nice couple and all, but they moved here from Toronto 4 years ago and have no interest in what goes on here. They go to Kitchener to eat and shop, or they go to Toronto. Heck, there oldest son lives with his uncle in the winter so he can play hockey in Toronto, not here. They go to fairview mall, not ours, they have never been downtown hespeler, they don’t let their youngest go past the cemetery. They consider Cambridge just a safe place to sleep. And I sometime wonder if their are more people living here like that? It is just a pit stop in their life. These are the people who don’t vote here, cause in the long run they wont be here.
Hello James Hillis - You asked why I still live here in Cambridge. I have owned property in Cambridge since 1979. I am leaving in 2013, and moving to Costa Rica. I want to live in a society that respects the elderly, not exploits them, like Craig and his councillors do. I recently purchased a duplex in Costa Rica, and the government there says “welcome to our country”. Here in Cambridge our municipal government would attack anyone who created such accomodation, not support it. Municipal corruption in Canada is totally our of control, and I’m not staying here to cope with it.
Well….here goes! I think that anyone truly serious about running for mayor would have tossed their hat in the ring by now. (’Fringe” candidates, may still crop up; those who just want the ‘campaign experience’, someone put up by the incumbent’s team to ’split the vote’ and etc…But an organized and viable mayoral candidate would be front-line and center, at this point). So the time for me to decide who I will support in the upcoming election has arrived. I give my support, and will give my vote, to Linda Whetham. (Not sure I ever thought I would say that….but there it is.)
Here is my honest to gosh personal assessment of the mayoral race candidates: Doug Craig has got to go. His arrogance (i.e. see his public comments in the article above, if nothing else), his blatant disregard for the public purse and the plain fact that he’s simply been in office too long to be effective, are but three reasons for his anticipated (late) departure.
I have had my own (personal) issues with Ms. Whetham. But , in my humble opinion, she is a fair and honest individual; who seems to have Cambridge citizen’s and taxpayer’s best interest at heart, and in mind. She has several years of experience as a Ward Councilor and will not be coming into the job ‘blind-sided’. She has also promised to never seek more than 2 terms in office, if elected. That’s a BIGGIE for me, personally, because I believe anyone who stays longer than that in the mayor’s seat becomes too entrenched in the ‘old boys club’, loses a lot of public perspective and gets ‘too comfortable’….ergo; the ego.
Many folks, who were once Craig supporters, are no longer so. But, I’m sure that many who supported me in the last election, may decide to go with him this time; because for whatever reason, they don’t think Linda is the one to take-over the mayor’s spot. All of that is fine. To each his own. But if one only considers the issues, not personalities and/or personal relationships, I think Whetham is a shoo-in.
The biggest hurdle for Linda will be Doug’s speaking and debating abilities. He may not be as good as he sounds, or makes himself out to be…But he IS one of the best debaters I’ve ever encountered. Hopefully, the voters will listen to WHAT is said, not HOW it is said;. Hopefully they will see through the ‘grandiose’ speaking and cast their votes for who will do the best job…not who may ’sound’ the best.
So go, Linda, and go BIG!!