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Would the 'rubes' to whom Ballard refers included residents to whom he hoped to sell tickets to his own over-priced, not-for-profit Gala? If so, his letter seems counter-productive if not downright stupid. Are you certain he was ever a working journalist for any length of time? He keeps writing himself into corners.
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I'm not certain of anything about Councillor Ballard. I never heard of the man until the Mormac Duo finagled his appointment as chairman on a town advisory committee.
He talks about having been a reporter and covering Aurora Council.
He claims to remember when the Aurora Agricultural Society 's Class A Horse Show was in Mosely Park. It was there before I became Mayor and that was in the early seventies, forty years ago.
I can't see how being reporter and covering Aurora Council at the time of the Aurora Horse Show in Mosely Park more than forty years ago can be reconciled.
I think Councillor Ballard might have trouble keeping things straight in his mind. It may be why he is no longer a professional journalist even if he got past the learning stage.
I did hear he listed the Town of Aurora as client of his consulting firm while he was serving as chairman of a town committee.
That was similar to Ken Whitehurst, being paid as a resource person to the Heritage and Culture Committee while a member of the committee.
And Councillor Gaertner applying and receiving a grant of $1,000 for her non-profit enterprise while serving as a Councillor.
At the same time, neither Councillor McRoberts, Collins-Mrakas or myself were appointed to any committees that might attract favourable attention.
Councillor McRobert's was denied the opportunity to be on the Wells Street School Accommodation Committee in favour of Councillor Gallo.
Councillor Collins Mrakas was successful in setting up a committee to deal with the problem of graffitti and developing a program.
It was slightly less than amusing to watch the antics to undermine the success of the program to ensure the Councillor received no credit for her efforts.
Sunday 15 April 2012
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From Councillor Ballard's website:
Quoting from "In my opinion...Aurora Councillor Chris Ballard
IN THE NEWS - Being a municipal Councillor, I'm often in the local news. This page will point you to media interviews or events that I think are important.
ROGERS TV
"Perspectives with Jamie Young
January 18, 2012"
SOLE EVENT 3 months ago. Busy little beaver!!!
On the BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE PAGE - Campaign Material 2010, several items are listed:
"PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE - "My business style and experience can best be described as inclusive, creative, strategic - and financially sound.
For the past 23 years, I've owned a public affairs and business management company based in Aurora which does business across Canada.
For the past 13 years, my focus has been on working with First Nation communities in Canada's north, specifically in business development and governance, in order to ensure they benefit from natural resources development in their areas. HAS THIS CONTRIBUTED TO A REDUCTION IN ALCOHOLISM AND SUICIDE?
My latest project involved bringing together my team and working closely with municipal governments and their citizens to create Community Sustainability Plans. MANY OF THE LESSONS LEARNED IN DEVELOPING THESE PLANS CAN BE APPLIED IN MY ROLE AS AURORA COUNCILLOR."
There is more, much more, but of equally dubious value.
Methinks a case of verbal diarrhea.
I approach this subject with caution. Feel free to give it a pass if it is out of line. Do you think that what has just transpired, the swiftness, nastiness and evidence of planning, will serve as an object lesson to Council? Two or three Councillors appeared to be aware of the lurking menace; others carried on blithely which led to the infamous flip-flop over the termination clause. It would be reassuring to hope that such an event would not happen again but that is asking too much.
I guess to put it into general terms,are the three isolated Councillors going to become further cut off or can we expect to see no behavioral changes at the next meeting which I do not think is on TV?
I believe anyone who has spent significant time as a working journalist must learn the painful lessons of being red-penciled over every error even those that seem trivial . Unnecessarily emotionally tinged rhetoric gets clobbered and warnings are issued about keeping the material simple. Councillor Ballard's prose is undisciplined and filled with imagery pilfered from war games. He might have spent some time in advertising but there is no evidence he was ever a functioning journalist faced with deadlines and demands.
I believe Ballard grew up in King. Therefore, as a child, he could have attended the Horse Show at the Town Park before its move to Machell Park.
I hate to butt in here with facts, but here goes. All but three Councillors have appeared on tape with Alison C.M. and she lobs soft-ball questions and lets them air their opinions, hopes and plans. even Councillor Sandra pontificated on how she would watch big-ticket items. No fuss, no anger, state your case. But Ballard has not appeared. He should not be afraid of her but his absence indicates a singular lack of courage for an individual who considers himself to be an ' inclusive ' guy representing Aurora. Appearing with out-of-town Jamie Young does not require guts. To Aurorans, Ballard is right down there with the other two no-shows, Wendy and Gallo. Some white knight ! So sue me.
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