The Guelph Civic League (GCL) this week released their second annual Voting Record round-up. The civic advocacy group compiles data from councillor votes cast in the year 2008, and ranks each member of the city council according to how closely their vote aligns with the values of the GCL. Obviously, the GCL’s values lean towards the progressive, but their main goal is to help facilitate an informed and active local electorate. “The purpose of the report is to facilitate interest and to increase accessibility to council's record, often difficult to ascertain due to the sheer volume and format of the minutes of council meetings,” said a GCL statement issued with the report. “The hope is that these reports might provide a forum for discussion between residents and their council representatives.”
So who’s most inline with the ideals of the GCL? Well, Ward 5 Councillor Leanne Piper gets that honour with Ward 2 Councillor Ian Findley who tied for 86.7 per cent each. Both councillors won points for supporting a pesticide ban by-law, and for voting against the 6&7 development expansion on Woodlawn and the Hydro merger. Reversely, Ward 4 Councillor Gloria Kovach is at the top of GCL’s naughty list with 35.7 per cent while Ward 6 Councillor Christine Billings follows close behind with 42.9 per cent. Overall, council’s average is 73.4 per cent, with eight councillors scoring 80 per cent or more.
“By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office,” says GCL, who added that their report this year involved the input of more members than ever. “A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently.”
So who’s most inline with the ideals of the GCL? Well, Ward 5 Councillor Leanne Piper gets that honour with Ward 2 Councillor Ian Findley who tied for 86.7 per cent each. Both councillors won points for supporting a pesticide ban by-law, and for voting against the 6&7 development expansion on Woodlawn and the Hydro merger. Reversely, Ward 4 Councillor Gloria Kovach is at the top of GCL’s naughty list with 35.7 per cent while Ward 6 Councillor Christine Billings follows close behind with 42.9 per cent. Overall, council’s average is 73.4 per cent, with eight councillors scoring 80 per cent or more.
“By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office,” says GCL, who added that their report this year involved the input of more members than ever. “A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently.”
From the League:
For the record...
We've gathered the votes from city council's second year and compared them with the values you told us were most important to you. We encourage you to examine these records and reflect upon how your elected officials are doing based on what you care about.
Voting Records for 2008: See for yourself.
GCL's Annual Voting Records Report has become the cornerstone of the groups' effort to educate and engage citizens by making access to local government quick and easy. Since the first release of Council Voting Records in October of 2006, citizens groups in many communities across Canada have adopted GCL's voting record template. By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office. The purpose of the report is to facilitate interest and to increase accessibility to council's record, often difficult to ascertain due to the sheer volume and format of the minutes of council meetings. The hope is that these reports might provide a forum for discussion between residents and their council representatives.
As an advocate for participatory democracy, this year GCL endeavoured to engage more of its membership in the development of the Voting Records report. A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently. As with previous versions, each councillor's vote is 'scored'. A positive score is assigned for votes aligned with GCL values. In 2008, individual councillor scores ranged from 35.7% to 86.7%.
Voting Records for 2008: See for yourself.
GCL's Annual Voting Records Report has become the cornerstone of the groups' effort to educate and engage citizens by making access to local government quick and easy. Since the first release of Council Voting Records in October of 2006, citizens groups in many communities across Canada have adopted GCL's voting record template. By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office. The purpose of the report is to facilitate interest and to increase accessibility to council's record, often difficult to ascertain due to the sheer volume and format of the minutes of council meetings. The hope is that these reports might provide a forum for discussion between residents and their council representatives.
As an advocate for participatory democracy, this year GCL endeavoured to engage more of its membership in the development of the Voting Records report. A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently. As with previous versions, each councillor's vote is 'scored'. A positive score is assigned for votes aligned with GCL values. In 2008, individual councillor scores ranged from 35.7% to 86.7%.
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