Waterloo Public Library Digital Collections

Waterloo Chronicle (Waterloo, On1868), 12 Nov 1980, p. 3

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Another five said they had voted "half and half," while only two said they had opted specifically for more fresh faces. None of the 14 felt that council‘s refusal to hold a vote on the fluoridation of Waterloo‘s drinking water â€" an issue promoted by the Waterioo Safe Water Society and taken up by several candidates â€" influenced the way they voted. Incumbents Bob Henry and Mary Jane Mewhinney were other popular choices. \In fact, most of them said there were no main issues in this election. Incumbent Doreen Thomas, who easily won reâ€"election to council, was among the top two choices of six of those surveyed, while newcomer Jim Erb, who was elected with more votes than any other candidate, was a favorite with five. The Chronicle talked to voters at polling booths at Sir Edgar Bauer School in Lakeshore Village, Hilliard Hall at King and William Streets and the Waterloo Public Liâ€" brary. They ranged from the man who voted according to a list his wife had written out for him to the university profesâ€" sor who carefully selected his choices in line with "cerâ€" tain affinities." Jakobsch was also enthusiastic about new candidate Jim Erb, whom he knows personally. ‘"He could blossom into an outstanding member of council," he said. By Gail McMichael Waterloo council has been doing a good job, fluoridation was not a burning issue in the recent municipal election and, in fact, there were no main issues. Asked whether they had voted mainly for the six canâ€" didates who were already council aldermen or for the five newcomers to the race for eight council seats, half the voters surveyed told the Chronicle they had mainly voted for incumbents. m"l‘h;'profressor, Frank Jacobsh, 42, of Parklawn Place, made it to the poll at Sir Edgar Bauer School just moâ€" ments before closing time at 8 p.m. _ â€" He said he had voted for four incumbents and two new candidates, but didn‘t feel that council experience, or lack of it, made any difference to his decision. ‘"‘That wasn‘t the criteria at all for selecting them; 1 looked for certain affinities,"‘ he said. His first choice ‘"absolutely"" was incumbent John Shorâ€" treed, a fellow professor at the University of Waterloo, because "from what I have heard and seen, he is the most intelligent, knowledgeable and imaginative person on Waâ€" terloo council." That was the consensus of opinion in a random miniâ€"surâ€" vey of 14 voters at three Waterloo polls Monday night. VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY John Shortreed (left) and Robert Henry compare notes in the city‘s council chambers Monday night. The two men were reâ€" turned to office as aldermen following their success at the polls, placing sixth and fifth respectively. However, Hatt also voted for new candidates Gary Voigt and Glen Wright because of their business experienâ€" ce, as well as for Jim Erb, ‘"because we met him." She felt there were no main issues in the election. One voter who was definitely not happy with council‘s past performance was Derrick Townsend, 34, of Euclid Avenue, who voted at Hilliard Hall. She also favored Doreen Thomas, because ‘"if she doesn‘t think something is right, she speaks up." He described himseif as proâ€"fluoride and said the fluoriâ€" dation issue affected his vote ‘"‘*not one bit." Hone said she didn‘t feel there was any main issue in the election, and she was "generally satisfied"" with council‘s performance. â€" O _ _Also happy with council‘s record was Rudy Freiheit, 39, of Black Oak Crescent. "I voted more for the ones already on, because I feel things have been going pretty good in Waterloo,"" he said as he left the poll with his two young daughters. _ "I don‘t follow municipal politics that much, but I think Doreen Thomas has been doing good," said Freiheit, who voted for no new candidates. a He said there were ‘"not really"" any issues in the elecâ€" tion, adding that fluoridation was a nonâ€"issue, since the Waterloo Safe Water Society failed to get the number of signatures required on its petition before council could put the issue to a vote. Brenda Hatt, 41, of Cedarbrae Street said she voted mainly for the incumbents, choosing Charles Voelker first, "because of his experience and the things I read about him â€" he makes sense." He said he voted for all five of the new candidates, because he was "disgusted‘‘ with some members of the old council and also because "I believe you sould give new people a chance." . But his first two choices for alderman were incumbents Mary Jane Mewhinney and Doreen Thomas, because "I follow the papers quite a lot and I like their policies," Townsend said. ‘‘Half of those incumbents I wouldn‘t back for anything Her first choice for alderman was Glen Wright, since she knows him as a customer at the store she and her husâ€" band own, Kâ€"W Photo in the Parkdale Plaza. She also voted for incumbent Doreen Thomas and new candidate Jim Colley, because "I read his pamphlet and a little bit in the Chronicle." He also voted for newcomer Glen Wright, ‘"because he is from Lakeghore Village, and sometimes we feel Lake shore Village is not very well represented on council." Faith Hone, 37, of Glen Forrest Boulevard, said she is against fluoridation, but that didn‘t affect the way she voted either. It was a family affair in the city‘s council chambers Monday night as a pensive Richard Biggs watches the returns. Bigg‘s wife Iris and eightâ€"yearâ€"old daughter Ailison watch anxiously as the numbers come in. Biggs was returned to office. WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1980 â€" PAGE 3 ‘*And I thought I‘d give Andy Telegdi a try â€" I like his energy policies,"" she said. _ _ o â€" His favorite for alderman was Jim Erb, because "it‘s a good name for Waterloo,"" followed by incumbent Bob Henry, because "I wanted someone to keep the boat from upsetting altogether,"" he said with a laugh. Her first choice was Mary Jane Mewhinney, but she adâ€" mitted that she didn‘t know any of the candidates well enough to explain why she chose them. _ _____ _ Lois Morgan, 47, of Norman Street said she voted for inâ€" cumbents because their names were familiar and they were more experienced. 77 "I just voted because my wife thought they were good," he said. "I don‘t follow politics at all â€" I should, but I don‘t." Townsend said there was no issue he was particularly concerned about and regretted missing the allâ€"candidates meeting two weeks ago. "I believe in change,"‘ he added. His wife linda, 30, said she voted ‘"about half and half" for incumbents and new candidates. While she was against fluoridation, she didn‘t feel it was an election issue, since not all candidates said where they stood on it. She especially liked Doreen Thomas, because ‘"she seems to speak up quite a bit" and is ‘"not afraid to rock the boat." Her husband, Howard, 50, said he voted "half and half" for incumbents and newcomers, but added "I don‘t really know any of them very well." _____ _ _Jim Donkers, 47, also of Norman Street, voted for four incumbents and two new candidates whose names were written on a list his wife gave him. _ His son, Dan, 21, had stronger views about the candidaâ€" tes he voted for â€" an equal mix of incumbents and new faces. His first choice was Bob Henry, because "he was my viceâ€"principal at KCI, and I think he‘s a good man." _ _ Jim Erb he also knew personaHy, after working with him on two Liberal federal and provincial election camâ€" paigns. e o o _ He felt there were no main issues in the election, althâ€" ough "I didn‘t really follow it this year." _ She said she liked Mary Jane Mewhinney for her preâ€" vious work on council and because ‘"she‘s the only one I feel I know. At the Waterloo Public Library, Paige Harris, 26, of Menno»Street said she voted for one incumbent and one new candidate. Her husband, Byron, 25, said he voted the same way for the same reasons. in the world, but those two are good," he added

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