Received via email from Concerned Christians Canada…

Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010

Calgary needs you

If you are receiving this message and you don’t live in Calgary, but you know people who live in Calgary, would you be so kind as to forward this message to those people you know in Calgary. It is really important that they get this message. Also, if you could help get the word out, I would really appreciate it and it could make all the difference going forward in Calgary. We have also placed links in the bottom of this e-mail for you to post this message to facebook and twitter, so if you are a social networker, please help us out by clicking the facebook and twitter links to help promote this message.

Many people have told me that they don’t vote because they don’t feel it will make a difference. Well, I am here to tell you that, this time around in Calgary’s 2010 election, your vote will count. In fact, if you vote the ballot you cast could decide Calgary’s future. If, on the other hand, you don’t vote, Calgary’s future will be decided for you. It all comes down to this; right now, there is a very close race between the forerunners, running for mayor, Ric McIver and Barb Higgins. I believe the difference between these two individuals is night and day. Ric McIver is a statesman and has a proven track record in politics, whereas Ms. Higgins is merely known for her face and voice from TV. As you can imagine, those that have been enamoured with Ms. Higgins due to her TV status will likely vote for her, not because they know anything about what she stands for or has supported in the past, nor because they truly know anything about what she would be like in politics. Ms. Higgins has been a lovely smiling face on TV that people have come to recognize and many people will vote for her on that basis alone.

I ask you though, is that the kind of mayor that you want involved in law making in our city? An individual who although they have charisma, has little or no practical political experience? I can tell you that with my involvement in politics, I have come to know it is not a game nor is the job of mayor for the faint of heart. Without speaking of the social agenda I have seen Ms. Higgins support in the past, I submit that she is not worthy to be Calgary’s mayor, and not just due to her lack of political experience. Frankly, my desire for my family (my wife and my kids) and for all Calgarians, including Calgary’s least fortunate citizens, is hope for a better future not based on fluff and nice speeches but based on the hard work it takes to work with various groups to make good laws and public policy rule the day.

As for Ric, I have known him for many years, both in politics and prior to that personally, I have seen him at work and witnessed his character first hand. I want you to know that Ric listens, he acts, he responds and he has defended our freedoms and our pocket books (voting against tax hikes and voting against the stripping of our constitutional freedoms). Ric McIver is the only alderman that came to the March for Jesus to support our right to freedom of religious expression and has committed to working with elected aldermen to make Calgary a City free from heavy tax burdens, with more affordable parking, more affordable housing, and more protections for the poor and the homeless. Ric also was the only alderman that stayed all the way to the end and answered questions for, not only his constituents, but for the constituents of other wards, whose alderman either did not show up or who left early, at the tax protest held this year at Calgary’s City Hall. He patiently listened to everyone, answered questions and got back to people later when he didn’t have an answer on the spot that someone had asked. He has actively and regularly attended constituency association meetings, during his nine years as alderman, and has demonstrated that he believes in the voice of the people and the democratic process.

Candidates can make promises all they want, but frankly if all a candidate has been involved in politically is making comments on politics while others have been doing the hard work in the trenches they haven’t earned the right to be mayor nor have they shown that they are capable of doing the job.

I have recognized that many people are going into this election on face recognition alone, but elections aren’t about pretty faces, they are about voting for the right candidate that has the experience and the track record of standing for constituents all day, every day, even when the public isn’t looking. For these and many other reasons, Ric McIver gets my vote and I hope he has yours. This election may be one of the most important elections in your lifetime. It is a very close race and Ric needs your support. Please exercise your democratic freedom while you still can. The vote is on Monday, please don’t miss your chance to stand up and be counted.

Ric needs you
Please listen to the following video Ric has shown that he cares for the last nine years in office, and I believe he had demonstrated that he deserves to be mayor. Please click here to view it online.