Here is the spot to ask me some questions (even if you disagree). Questions will be moderated before being posted. This is to prevent offensive post from being shown. As long as it is clean I will post any view point. Update. I decided to chance the name of people to thier initials. This is for privacy. This may encourage more people to comment
Portsmouth District 2010
#1 by M.V. on January 10, 2010 - 10:59 pm
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Since your views are so similar to Mark Gerretsen’s views, and since I have heard you are an acquaintance of Mark, I am presuming he will not be running in Portsmouth District again. I will also then presume he will run for mayor. If Harvey doesn’t run of course.
Reading your opinions I realize you are a Rosen/Smith politician. Your comment that council has to work to-gether sounds like Harvey but that, of course, is only when they agree with his agenda. Council cannot work to-gether all the time or we will have the previous council again. Where the majority pandered to the big money to an unbelievable degree. Can you imagine parliament if MPs all ‘worked to-gether’. We would be living in a one party country. One party, one opinion, one course of action–whether the majority want it or not.
My Reply: I admitt I did have a chuckle at the first line. Let me confirm I am not an acquaintance of Mark and Mark will say the same. (Where did you here that). The only conversation ( less than 30 seconds) I every had with Mark is when he asked me directions on how to get to the SSM at RMC. a few months ago. I knew whom he was and I am sure he had no idea who I was. I will say he did seem fairly friendly in the very short time we talked. As for if Mark and Harvey will be running in thier respective position, no idea. I have speculated with friends and co-workers as to what they may do. However, it is pure speculation. I hope that clears up any rumours . As for getting along, yes we will have differences, However, most of the getting along refers to the management of various deptments of city hall. I have heard compalints that some councillers are argueing with engineers with 20 plus years experience in the field and the counciller refuse to listen to them. With regards to Rosen saying that the councillers need to get along, it is up to the mayor to maintain control.
Thanks for the questions. I will try and answer all of them
Harold Hemberger
#2 by M. on January 23, 2010 - 5:12 am
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I would be interested to know what your educational and professional background is. Do you have any experience in municipal politics? Watching council on tv does provide quite an education, to be sure, but have you ever served on any kind of board or committee? Thanks for your time.
My Respone.
For my educational background, I did attend college (Niagara College) studying computer programming back in the early 80’s. After one year I did not continue because Of a good job offer. Other educational skills are heavy on technical ( computer programming / hardware and locksmithing). I have had leadership training while serving in the military (Reg Force – Supply Tech). With regards to a professional background, I do not have any professional degrees. On the business side, I owned a video rental business in the mid 80’s which I sold before serving the military. Other business ventures I had was a partnership mobile locksmith business and part-time computer services (hardware / database setup). In my career I also did Technical Support and Sales. Currently I am working in security at RMC. I did this switch because of the possible economic uncertainty with the Sales Position. As a side note I was a finalist a few years ago in “The First Capital Challenge”. This was a contest based on presentation and feasibility of a business plan. Even though I may not hold a degree, I believe that practical experience does count for a lot as well.
To answer your question. Do you have any experience in municipal politics? No. Have you ever served on any kind of board or committee? If you want to count Mess Committee in the military ( for the none -military mess refers to where we do social gatherings usually – bar / club type atmosphere either formal or informal). It is nothing major. I would like to add .To some people, It may not seem like much. However, I do have a strong belief in working with the city’s management rather than working against them. As a city, we have to attract and keep business. As I mentioned in another article ” Government does not create jobs ( unless you work for the government. Government does create an environment which may or may not attract business by any policies it implements.
Thanks for your question.
Harold Hemberger