The suspense ends today – September 10, 2006.

The Tories have already conceded this seat and will run a municipal councilar as a “token” resistance to Liberal Mr. Dave Levac.

The hapless councilar will then have dibs on the mayor’s chair in three years time and is merely using the Tory nomination as a stepping stone to his heart’s true ambition – to preside as the Mayor over the greatest City in the world – Brantford Ontario!

Update on Tory candidate watch!
Local lawyer to obtain acclaimed nomination. Feels he has no chance of winning against incumbent Liberal but believes incumbent will not run in 2011! Local Tory lawyer implementing risky two campaign strategy to try to win in 2011!
Fascinating machinations. Only time will tell if (a) incumbent does not run in 2011 and (b) no one else challenges local lawyer for nomination in 2011. Then (c) a 2011 Tory “wave” sweeps out whoever the Liberal is in a pretty safe Liberal riding.
Other Tories who want the nomination in 2011 already whispering local lawyer is a “loser” who cannot win in 2011 because he will lose in 2007.
Local Liberals just shaking their heads.

Tory Candidate Up date to update.

Local Tory lawyer backs out of his risky two campaign strategy. Stated reason is that he cannot afford to take three months off of practise of law and lose $60,000.00. Reality hit Tory lawyer like a oncoming train.

Local right wing city counsellor steps in to fill the void with the expectation that he will lose 2007 election but garner favourable press during the campaign and in the process set himself up for run for the Mayor’s chair three years later!

This is the same city counsellor who promised as recently as the November municipal elections he would not end his term early for another elected position. Unfortunately ambition compromises one’s integrity and city counsellor’s credibitility ranks somewhat south of a used car salesman’s credibility with the good folks of Brantford.

Dave Levac should have no problem keeping riding red. City counsellor’s gamble for the mayor’s chair suspect at best. His strategy breeds contempt for his type of Tamney Hall political games playing.

In process, a previously decent strategy of doing a good job on council prior to run for Mayor’s office in three years time will be overshadowed by deceit of promising not to leave position of city counsellor for provincial Tory candidate.

City consellor will lose all as he lost sight of what really matters. Keeping promises.

Dave Levac will hold this seat for the Liberals for several reasons:

1. He (and the Liberal government)has delivered for the riding of Brant on a majority of his commitments from the past election, i.e. MRI, Brownfield funds, Wilfrid Laurier campus expansion just to name a few. While the Tories were in power, with a tory MPP, none of this happened.

2. He is a great constituent MPP who goes to bat for Brant and takes his constit work extremely seriously.

3. He knows how to fight tough elections campaigns. He was elected in 1999 when the Tories basically swept large areas of south western/south central ontario.

4. The local Tories have already tripped themselves up with a badly planned visit by Minister Baird to view a local brownfield site. They turned it into a giant tory love in (they tried to and did with several, exclude any Liberal leaning city council memebers from attending) all while touring around on a city funded bus. Although federal, the provincial candidate was painted with it as he sits on city council.

Solid Red in Brant and well deserved.

I think Rob Ferguson of the Family coalition party has a very good chance. From police,fire and other unions behind him. From families opposed to childrens aid. Ferguson just seems to have turned heads.

This is Dave Levac’s riding, hands down! McCreary has already shot himself in the foot by attempting to use his council position to boost his fortunes by voting in favour of decisions that affect members of his campaign team. This is in addition to him refusing to vacate his council seat while seeking provincial office. Unfortunately for him and his mayoral dream and future PC hopefuls, the people of Brant have long memories and are not the most forgiving type. One only needs to remember back to Rob Johnson and his lack of respect he showed towards his MPP position and Chris Friel, the former mayor that, but not without some justification, made a negative comment towards the state of Brantford’s downtown core.

Give the people of Brant some credit. While Levac may be good at cutting ribbons and sending 80th birthday wishes, he’s largely ineffective when it comes to matters of economic development, and his inability to keep his temper in check will not gain us any ground in the percolating land claim debate. Instead the citizens of Brant will recognize that a vote for Levac is a vote for McGuinty and cast their ballot for a real leader, John Tory.

The campaign begins in earnest and the news at the door is that Dalton McGuinty is the world record promise-breaker that will be sent a message on October 10th. Levac will bear the brunt.

If you think for a second that McCreary has any chance, think again. McCreary himself has essentially admitted defeat. Levac may be good at cutting ribbons, but its ribbons he lobbied for and was successful getting. The difference between a political hack and someone like Levac is that Levac has been able to get government investment in the riding when he was in oppostion and outside of major programs set out by the Liberals. As for McGuinty breaking promises, he may have but lets remember why he broke the big one… to fix the balanced budget lie of the Conservatives.

Although levac has done some good things helping in brant he is more concerned about about being a government whip.
As a candidate for Brant I make 2 promises

1. promise one to everyday serve brant

2. to honour my party

Levac gets voted back.

But based on the number of signs throughout the city I believe Dan McCreary will be the next mayor of the city as was his plan all along! Good hustle Dan.

Please note this comment is in a series of comments by me. I’m doing a prediction for every riding. For this riding I’m predicting the Liberals will win.