People ask "What you will do for me if elected Mayor?"
I say, "We need to give you the $52 Million back." In my view, this issue is about a breach of trust. We must first REBUILD TRUST in city hall. Integrity matters to me, and it should matter to you. The province gave you money. Council kept it. As Mayor, I will give it back - simply, easily, and as soon as possible. I will give it back simply because it is yours and always was yours, in trust. No staged game show and no disaster made it right to take it away.
If a friend gave you $500 in trust to pay back to someone he owed it to, would you have the right to keep it for yourself instead? If you are entrusted with money to be given to someone else - then you need to give it to them.
The City of Calgary was entrusted with your money by the provincial government. The city was not given that money for its own coffers. There's a simple way to credit your account and that will be my first act of trust and integrity for you.
I will also lead from a perspective of Fair Taxation.
I'm an efficiency expert and I will do more with less. I've done it before, saving Calgarians $100 million by changing out light bulbs (at no additional cost to you) and winning a global environmental award as well. Efficiency and trouble-shooting are expert skills of mine. I will help the city do more with less money and ensure fair taxation for Calgary families who are struggling with burdensome taxes
I will champion small business.
Small business is the lifeblood of democracy, the dream of many entrepreneurs. Small businesses create the vitality of walkable city streets and bring the flavours of the world to our door in ethnic restaurants and take-outs. I will create incentives and reduce disproportionate taxes; I will set a tone of constructive leadership, not faces top-down disrespect
Let's all get S.M.A.R.T. at City Hall.
I will set SMART goals for growth- specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented, timely. Things get done this way, and there are 'no surprises' or major budget overruns along the way because everything is measured by tangible stages.
I will work for you and with you.
I see that it is vital to revive civility and even-handedness at City Hall. As Mayor, I will set a new tone of civility and respect for taxpayers and stakeholders. I will (and in past offices have) set a personal example that City Hall is here to serve the public in a constructive and collaborative way
And I will make sure our kids can get FIT with soccer and sport arenas
I commit to having "Ten Times the Fun on the Field" - Kids need a place to place soccer - the World's Game - and I can make it happen. With my plan we can build 10 new soccer and sport fields as cost-effective, fun forms of fitness and venues for community events. (We're in flood recovery mode, so expensive rec centers are a challenge, but fields of fun are not.)
Those are just a few of my good ideas and constructive positions on leading this great city as your Mayor. Experience. Integrity. Innovation. Results. That's what I offer you.
Let's work together to make Calgary Great! (not broke...or divided).
I hope you will vote Jon Lord on Oct. 21, 2013.