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- Written by Gordon MacKinnon
- Category: Uncategorised
- Published: 03 March 2020
- Hits: 581
Gordon MacKinnon is once again running for council.
About Gordon:
- 19 year Fernwood tenant
- Six year volunteer with Emergency Management Victoria's Cyclist Response Team (Canada's first formal cyclist response team)
- painter of seven Fernwood Hydro/Telus poles (one Telus pole was replaced and repainted)
- founder of small business, early adapter of internet commerce serving clients around the globe.
- long time transit patron
- early career as drafter/designer of mechanical systems (familiarity with challenges of design process, and fundamentals of mechanical systems)
- presented paper/tutorial to NASA conference
There are things that I choose not to do:
I do not facebook, tweet, et al. I do not agree with uncompensated surrender of intellectual properties.
Much as it is easier to connect with electors through social media, I would not want to be a party to the sale of electors' political preferences, peers and passions to the highest bidder. I respect the concept of a secret ballot. I also have one word for the GRU (Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye), NYET! (HET!)
I am not comfortable with crowdsource funding, or political platforms such as nationbuilder.
As one council member I cannot presume to promise any motions or policies without the concurrence of others.
As I have met all current council members on multiple occasions, I believe that I could work with most, if not all.
I can promise to listen and continue to learn to do my best towards the best outcomes for our city and region.
I may vote for things I don't agree with as doing something is better than nothing.
I may be inclined to say things many may not want to hear.
On more than one occasion it had been suggested that I am a wordsmith. I happily anticipate the opportunity of assisting in crafting the language of motions and amendments to best reflect the aspirations and priorities of council and community, or perhaps mediate the interests of divergent outlooks.
Outlook
- Details
- Written by Gordon MacKinnon
- Category: Uncategorised
- Published: 09 October 2014
- Hits: 1154
It is important for Victoria to continue to provide leadership in developing solutions for a sustainable and inclusive community.
We are challenged by the geographic limitation of being on an island. We face increasingly volatile environmental events that will stress our infrastructure. We face many ongoing and emerging health perils that threaten our health and the viability of our tourism industry.
We are blessed with a highly intelligent, creative and hardworking populace who have chosen to live in Victoria because they value our quality of life, the environment and commitment to community despite better economic options available elsewhere. We also can boast 3 major post secondary institutions, and many cultural entities that enrich our lives even beyond their traditional mandates. We have many dedicated volunteers that contribute their time and expertise to community organizations, causes and cultural interests. We have entrepreneurs that commit their capital, creativity and expertise to develop new enterprises that expand our local economy. Most of all we have a community ethic that values our best choices.
Our challenge is how best to leverage our advantages in a cost effective way to continue to lead in so many areas while preserving valuable fiscal resources to anticipate and mitigate our risks and provide some flexibility for risks that are not yet apparent.
Approach
- Details
- Written by Gordon MacKinnon
- Category: interests
- Published: 03 November 2014
- Hits: 717
In the event that I am elected to council, as I will be working with seven other council members and the mayor, I do not expect to drive the agenda, and as I cannot predict who I would be working with I find it difficult to make any policy promises.
I can promise to work hard, listen, and continue to learn. If there is one thing that I have learned thus far in the campaign, it is that there are very few easy answers and that many simple ideas have unintended consequences. I have a curiosity to understand why things are as they are, and in my effort to better understand I develop analogous comparisons to systems and concepts that I am familiar with. This often provides me with different approaches to problems that could lead to better outcomes. I think through secondary and tertiary consequences. I try and anticipate the future we are investing in to make more strategic choices. I am prepared to raise difficult questions.
Biography
- Details
- Written by Gordon MacKinnon
- Category: Biography
- Published: 08 October 2014
- Hits: 908
I have been a resident of Greater Victoria for over twenty-five years, and a resident of Fernwood for over 18 years. My formal involvement in the community has up until recently limited because of commitments to my employment.
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