A Conversation with The Purple Violet Press

I had a chance to sit down and chat with Cheryl Norrad from the Purple Violet Press on Thursday, April 5. Click here to access the interview!

Fundraising

The goal: City Hall!

Hello everyone... I've signed up at IndieGoGo to help me raise money for my campaign. A friend of mine has had success with a similar campaign and I thought I'd give it a shot. Please follow this link to contribute.

In addition to the communication material I told you about in the last post, I've also ordered lawn signs that should be ready to spring from the ground like Easter lilies in the next day or two. Things are heating up and I'm getting excited. 

Please consider contributing to my campaign! And thank you!

All the best,

Ian

Promotional Material

This is what I'll be handing out to voters in Ward 6 as I make my rounds going door to door. It's at the printer's now!

Front

Back

Sustainability

If elected as Ward 6 City Councillor, I’d like to 

• build a stronger recycling program, including more bins for recyclable materials around city and especially downtown;
• encourage residents to reduce garbage by increasing participation in recycling and composting through incentives;
• prioritize the rezoning of Sunset U-pick to Open Green Space/Agriculture, and investigate more opportunities for maintaining green spaces (these spaces are NOT undeveloped);
• help design a Fredericton that is more pedestrian-friendly;
• strengthen our trail network and bike lanes;
• encourage sustainability by initiating incentive programs, such as tax credits, to install low flush toilets or to buy bus passes;
• support more community gardens;
• improve the transit system to better serve the public;
• investigate the possibility of partnering community gardens with the food bank and with shelters.

I am committed to making Fredericton more green and more sustainable. Some say we already have one of the greenest cities in Canada. I say we can still do better. The solutions are out there, and implementation can save us money in the long run. 

One major issue for many residents of the city is the provincial government's plan to go forward with shale gas development. Like many, I am concerned. I am not against development. But my thorough research does not convince me it is safe. And even if it is, the price we would get in return is at an all time low. It makes sense to wait for both these reasons. Though this is a provincial matter, I would support a resolution that calls for Fredericton to cooperate with other municipalities to protect our water by calling on the province to place a moratorium on development. 

Please check back over the next few days for more commitments under other themes of my campaign: support for local business and arts, and my long-term vision for Fredericton. And please contact me if you have any questions or ideas!

- Ian

Transparency

If elected as Ward 6 City Councillor, I will:

• be the most accessible city councilor of Fredericton ever, 
• make sure operation of city business is open and transparent and that meetings and information are as accessible as possible by posting notices for meetings and relevant minutes on web,
• listen and represent the residents of Ward 6 to the fullest of my capabilities, 
• make my website a virtual gathering spot for residents for Ward 6 by posting regular video updates to inform constituents directly about goings-on at council and committee meetings, 
• hold regular forums for residents of ward, 
• respond to calls, emails, tweets in a professional and positive manner
• investigate whether webcasts of council meetings are viable. 

I will also work together with others who are elected to council, constructively, but be sure that the voices of Ward 6 are respected.

And I will work together with other levels of government to make sure Fredericton’s voice is heard. 

Please check back over the next few days for my commitments under other themes of my campaign: sustainability, support for local business and arts, and my long-term vision for Fredericton.

- Ian

Today's Daily Gleaner: LeTourneau will offer for city council

Welcome to those of you who may be finding their way here from the link in today's Daily Gleaner. For those of you who haven't seen it, Heather McLaughlin wrote up an article detailing my announcement to stand as a candidate for this spring's election. It's on page A3.

In addition to my thoughts, I will post here detailed ideas that I want to bring to city council as representative for Ward 6.

Thanks for your interest, and I hope you visit often for more of my election platform (click tab above for announcements so far).

You can also like me on Facebook. Click here.

Announcement

As promised, I have begun adding details to my election platform (please click tab above for a summary of all previous announcements). Today I'd like to announce that as part of my commitment of transparency and of being accessible to the residents of Ward 6, I would like to hold regular public forums. At least once per year, I'd like to host a community forum to connect with as many residents of the ward as possible all at once. By doing so I hope to maintain open dialogue to ensure I'm meeting your expectations, and I hope to provide us a way to brainstorm together about how to build a greater sense of community.