It took us two days to get all the signs down in Ward 4. We had two crews working on the large signs and one on the small signs. I hope that the next council will change the bylaw requiring all signs to be down within 36 hours, since it is clearly unrealistic. Sean made a joke, that the good thing about having lots of our small signs stolen was that it made the clean up easier.

We had a lot of requests for the wood that supported the signs, and for the signs themselves. The 4 x 4, and 4 x 8 sheets were taken by individuals who were going to use the wood for their own signs, in order to advertise for farmers markets.

A teacher came by and grabbed some of the 4 x 4 signs for an arts project, while another batch went to someone that will use them for lining of sheds.

The other wood went to individuals who were going to use it in a construction project, and the scraps will make good kindling.

I am glad to say that most of the materials found a new purpose, so we did not have to take much to the dump.

I have also put a new donors list up; it is not the true amount of all the donations that came in, since I asked Andrew our Official Agent to give me a list of donors that gave over $100.00. The donations were much higher than what you see on the list. The support for Sean was amazing in that regards, and for that I thank all the donors. All the contributions, no matter the size, were greatly appreciated.

Many of you know Sean personally, so I am sure he has already thanked you for your support. But I want to also say thank you as well. I will do my best to make sure that everyone gets a proper thank you for the help that you gave to Sean during the campaign.

We had lots of people pop in an out that night, all wishing their best for Sean. Big thanks to all are phone callers; we crammed people into every corner, office, and seat we could. As well, a big thanks to all the MLA’s, Alderman, and supporters that came by to say good luck to Sean.

We ran a good, positive campaign and fought hard.

I would like to congratulate Gael Macleod for being elected the new Alderman of Ward 4. You were a good competitor.

I wish Naheed Nenshi good luck as our new Mayor, the positive change that he wants to see in Calgary, is what Sean’s message of “Making A Difference…Together” was all about. I have learned on this campaign that it is about the character of the candidate, not which party membership they hold. Sean showed that, he had the ability to bring people of all stripes, of every mayoral campaign, and of every party membership to support him, a rarity in politics.

As well, I wish to give congrats to the Aldermanic candidates that we have been rooting for these past few months. You have been true friends to Sean and the campaign, thank you for your support, and we have been promoting you, and your message to voters.

I want to thank Calgarian’s who voted in such high numbers. I knew the election turnout would spike, but when Ward 4 results were the last to come in, and with the reports of line ups, confusion as to where to vote, I knew that all bets are off, and that we were in for a long night.

The campaign came to an end last night at 2am with an emotional hug between Sean and I, in a cold parking lot as the core group of supporters decided to call it a night. Thank you to Andrew Chin our Official Agent, my Dad for helping us on the campaign, Marc for being there for me these past couple of months, and Sean who has been an inspiration to work with.

Thank you to everyone that has supported Sean these past 7 months, your calls of support are truly appreciated.

I wish that all Calgarian’s would see the other side of politics. It is not the negative image that is portrayed. I love politics because with the right candidate, and a dedicated campaign team, great things can be accomplished.

While the rhetoric is strong in the media, and everyone has an opinion. One should see campaigns as something that is a symbol of people coming together to sacrifice their time, money, and for campaign mangers their jobs, and sanity. When the Election comes, win or lose, they are the first to break.

People saw Ric McIver last night trying to keep his emotions contained, and when Higgins conceded I knew a friend of mine, who was on her campaign team, was in the background trying to contain his emotions, and to me that is what politics is about. It is a competition of ideas, and one needs the passion to see an idea made reality. The composure to keep it together is representative of the time, energy, and near the end the lack of sleep and health. The ability to keep ones emotions contained is a true strength, and McIver, Higgins, and those Aldermanic candidates that we have been supporting that did not succeed last night, you have mine and Sean’s respect. It has been a privilege working with so many different campaigns.

Our 7 month journey ended last night, with Sean’s name on pieces of paper, stuffed in a ballot box. If only people could see what went behind that little slip of paper. They will see that democracy is more than an X on a piece of paper but a combined effort of hundreds of people, who see politics as the art of the possible, and government as the art of compromise.

Thank you to everyone that has supported Sean on his campaign. We will meet again.

Dustin

VOTING STATION – Name and Address

Simons Valley Elementary School 375 Sandarac DR NW

Monsignor Neville Anderson Elem. School 327 Sandarac DR NW

Sandstone Valley Ecumenical Centre 1100 Berkshire BV NW

Beddington Heights Elementary School 95 Bermuda RD NW

Dr. J. K. Mulloy Elementary School 7440 10 ST NW

Alex Munro Elementary School 427 78 AV NE

North Haven Elementary School 4922 North Haven DR NW

Holy Trinity Anglican Church 18 Hidden Creek RD NW

Thorncliffe Greenview Community Hall 5600 Centre ST N

Mother Mary Green Elementary School 115 Edenwold DR NW

Centre Street Church 3900 2 ST NE

St. Elizabeth Seton Elem/Jr. High School 10845 Hidden Valley DR NW

Tom Baines Junior High School 250 Edgepark BV NW

Edgemont Elementary School 55 Edgevalley Ci NW

Harvest Hills Alliance Church 10099 Harvest Hills BV NW

SPECIAL Polling Station

Edgemont Retirement Residence 80 Edenwold DR NW

Age: 47
Marital/family status: Father of two
Career: Calgary Police Officer
Political experience: Ran in Calgary-Buffalo for the PC Party in 2008.
 I am running for: Ward 4 Alderman
 Website: seanchu.ca
 

1. How would you describe your political/leadership style?
 
My leadership style is to lead by example. I volunteer regularly for many Ward 4 community associations, and I sit on many organizations such as the Sien Lok Society, and the Wildrose Lion’s Club. Real political leadership is doing your upmost to make sure that citizens have a genuine voice to represent them, and understands that long term solutions are better than short term fixes, an idea that has sadly been forgotten at City Hall.

2. Describe your most significant achievement of the past five years.

One of my proudest moments was when I received the Alberta Centennial Medal for all my volunteer work. But there was also the time when I was working, and young men came up to me and thanked me for arresting him years back, and how he had changed his life because of it. Knowing I made a difference, no matter how small, made me very proud.
 
3. What is the biggest issue facing Calgarian’s in the next three years.
What would you do about it.

The biggest issue facing Calgarian’s will be dealing with the Calgary’s fiscal situation. The growing debt, followed by the increasing level of taxation is a sign of fiscal mismanagement. To make the city prosper, we need to cut red tape, lower business taxes and make the process of obtaining permits easier.

4. How should the next council address estimated $60 million revenue
shortfall? Where should that money be found?

Easy, instead of raising taxes, we can take the money from the ‘rainy-day-fund’ with the surplus of that fund close to $1 Billion, to raise taxes by the estimated 6.7% to make up for the shortfall, while this money just sits there is not acceptable.

5. Do you promise to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of
inflation over the next three years? Why or why not?

Yes. The increasing level of taxation is not acceptable. The city needs to get its finances in order first before it can turn around and ask Calgarian’s to pay more. Especially when they are paying for LRT parking, designer bridges, and they have higher property taxes on top of it, while they are told that the City’s debt is growing…Calgarian’s need a tax cut, not a tax hike.

6. Do you support additional, or higher, user fees to offset tax
increases?

No. We are paying enough already. User fees, taxes, they are the same thing, except user fees are taxes that allow you to see where your money is being spent. I want to know why the City has to keep raising taxes, while it increases user fees for public transit, parking rates downtown, and dealing with the city always costs more money. With all this money coming in, why is the city’s spending out of control.

7. Do you support having an independent city auditor who would oversee
city spending and report to the public?

Yes. External audits are beneficial because they are free to point out waste, and are free from internal pressures, bureaucratic and political. The fact that politicians are always leery of bringing in external audit, shows how necessary they are to give taxpayers proof that their money is being spent ethically, and prudently
 

8. Would you support a provincial audit of the city’s finances?

Yes. Transparency is needed at City Hall. With the revelation that the City’s internal auditing system was flawed, tells me that an external audit is needed. Not only to bring accountability to City Hall, but to reassure Calgarian’s that their tax dollars have, and will be, properly spent. We also need to change the city’s budgetary process so that it is yearly, not every three years.

9. Do you think firefighter salaries or library services should be given
the same protection from cuts as the police front line was given?

This is a tough question. As a Calgary Police Officer, are salaries are negotiated by our union with the City. I would be in favour of giving salary protection to front line workers like EMS, and Fire Fighters, but this is an issue that will need more discussion between the City, the Unions and the Province.

10. What would voters not know about you? Tell us one of your secrets.

When I was in the Taiwanese military in my early days, I had to live in a cave for two years.

This is a Four part answer.

One, I ask you to read the blog post that we put on are website last night, it tells of Sean’s 20 year commitment to the Ward. From calling Ward 4 his first home, from becoming a police officer that works in the Ward, to all of his community work that has all been contained in the Ward.

Sean knows the issues that affect the Ward; he has been a part of this community for 20 years. Sean sees the traffic congestion, the crime, and the neglect of the Ward by City Hall. He wants to change that.

Two, look at Sean’s policies, and you will see that he has the ideas, and the drive, to solve these issues.

Three, look at Sean’s message of “Making A Difference…Together,” and drive around the Ward. You see Sean’s lawn signs are everywhere, those are supporters. Those are people who have stuck with Sean, seen his sincerity, his passion, and have been a part of the campaigns journey. The campaign message is about positive change and integrity, Ward 4 has been a part of Sean’s life, and it will continue to be a part of it.

Four, I ask you to see read this blog post, it is from my perspective, and was painful to write. To see Sean attacked on such a level, was hard for me to bear, and still is. Monday will be an emotional day good or bad. It has been a 7 month long journey for Sean and I, and he has been an inspiration to work with. He showed me that it is possible to be positive, even in the face of cruel opposition.

I hope that you look, beyond the issue that was used to attack Sean, and see a man that has integrity, passion, and above all see a man that never really left the Ward. He has remained in his first home as an active member of the community.

Again, thank you to everyone that has sent emails, and phone calls to tell Sean of their support. We will move forward, and Sean’s message of “Making A Difference…Together” will not end on Monday night.

Suffice it to say, I knew something was happening when my email inbox filled up, and my phone was ringing every 20 minutes.

I am pleased to say that the phone calls were from supporters, some emotional, and that they wanted to give their continued support. I am starting to receive replies back from the emails that I answered yesterday, thank you for your support, it means a lot to me and Sean.

It was a pretty brutal and emotional day yesterday to see Sean, who I consider a third parent, to be treated, and attacked on such a large scale. I have worked with him for 7 months, his kids are part of my life, we have door knocked in the rain together, spent countless hours talking over the phone, and it has been a life changing experience.

I was taught by the best at the U of C, I learned that positive campaigns can work; but they are extremely difficult to pull off. We have done a positive campaign, we have not changed are focus. Our campaign has been focused on one aspect: door knocking. We have door knocked every community in Ward 4. I can’t drive by a house and not remember who lived there, or what happened at the door. Every lawn sign you see is a story.

The campaign has seen every other competitor come forward to announce their bid for Ward 4. We have watched them all with interest, and after the election some will be receiving a phone call from me to thank them for being fair, and in for the right reasons. I have been fixing your signs when I can.

The personal attack made against Sean, was brutal, and something that I thought I would never see in an Aldermanic race. I was wrong. But we will succeed, are determination to see Sean’s message of “Making A Difference…Together,” will be realized.

I went to vote at City Hall yesterday before the Monday Election. What I saw was amazing, 300 people were waiting in line to vote. I had to leave because of that long line, since Sean was heading to a seniors home in Edgemont and I had to meet him. I knew that something was different this time. Line ups at Advanced Polls, a 3-way mayoral race, and I knew that our campaign message “Making A Difference…Together” was becoming realized, not just in Ward 4, but all over Calgary.

Ward 4 residents want positive change, they want common sense at City Hall, and our door knocking has paid off. We have door knocked thousands and thousands of homes in the Ward. We have given Sean’s policy piece to every resident in the Ward, because we wanted the focus to be on Sean’s policy goals, his community work, and to show his passion for the Ward.

With really only two more days to go before the polls open, I hope that you look at those three areas. Look at our website, the media interviews Sean has done, and if you have met Sean, to remember that Sean just wants to make a difference. A statement that is genuine in its simplicity and passionate because that message has not changed since the campaign kicked off in April.

I want to share one email I received this morning. Thank you to the person who sent it, you made my day. I need to share this with other residents of Ward 4, so that they too can see that in this election, things are different and that people want real change, and positive politics.

Dear Dustin,

Thank you for your very personal reply to my email.  This message has confirmed my vote, and I thank you for setting me straight.  It is refreshing to hear, that someone with an honest love of the ward is stepping forward, to take on such a large task. 

Please let Sean know, that I am so glad I sent that email, and found out the truth for myself.  To often we just go on what the media has to say, or what mud other less reputable people have to sling.  I chose to direct this to get an honest answer, and I am happy that I chose to do so.  I don’t often get involved with politics, and have become a bit disappointed with what I have seen in the past.   This was the first time I have addressed a person running for office, with questions, of any nature, but, I am very glad I did. 

Please know that your personal touch, to my email, has renewed my hope for our City, and those that take the task to run.  I send Sean my best wishes, and I will be more than pleased to let my family and neighbours know that this is a man with integrity. 

Sincerely,
(Ward 4 Resident) 

Thank You.

We have two more days to go. We are making the final push, and this 7 month journey is coming to an end. Thank you to everyone who has supported Sean, there are thousands of you. Thank you for seeing Sean’s message as genuine, and for knowing that Sean’s commitment to the Ward is real and decades long.

Dustin

When Sean first moved to Calgary in 1985 he made Ward 4 his first home, Highland Park to be exact.

Sean lived there for many years. He saw the crime, the neglect, and the constant traffic congestions. Sean took the bus to work, he learnt English, and joined the Calgary Police Service within seven years of arriving in Calgary. From the start Sean was actively helping the community.

It has been 18 years since Sean became a Police Officer, and Sean has done an amazing amount of things in that time. He started a family, he owned two small businesses in the food industry, managed property, became a cultural liaison for the Calgary Police Service, and has become a community leader in Ward 4 ever since he came to Calgary.

Sean has been volunteering for the Sandstone-MacEwan Community Center for 6 years, and volunteers regularly for the Huntington Hills and Beddington Community Centers.

Sean volunteers for Cardel, which manages the recreation centers in the Ward.

Sean volunteers for casinos to help raise money for the community and as one good friend, and supporter of Sean said “he’s always there in a pinch.”

Sean is a member of the Sien Lok society, sits on PC constituency boards, and is a member of the Chinese Merchant Association.

Sean helped manage the Greenview Middle School as a 3 term director for the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy, where they managed a $27 million dollar budget, and always kept it in the black. Sean was also a 2 time director for the Federation of Calgary Communities, where he was in charge of some of Ward 4 community’s.

Sean’s volunteering for Ward 4 communities is extensive. That is why Sean was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal, an honour that goes out to individuals that have been actively involved in their community through volunteering.

While Sean was being a part of Ward 4, he has been a Calgary Police Officer, and now is a cultural liaison for the Chinese Community. An 18 year career, Sean has worn Riot gear to teaching classes at the U of C. Sean was Recipient of the Calgary Police Service Distinguished Service Award because of that long service.

I want to put all of this first to show that Sean is deeply connected to Ward 4, and his roots to the community’s that make up Ward 4 are decades old.

Sean has been door knocking since April. Since then I have seen a steady increase of people opening their door to Sean, and already knowing who he is.

When we placed are large signs out over the Ward, people honked their horns, waved, and people came up to us to talk to Sean. All of them knew someone that Sean did. A rarity given there are a million people in Calgary.

To say Sean is part of Ward 4 is an understatement. He has been part of this ward for two decades. I want to reiterate this, because it ties with Sean’s campaign message: “Making A Difference…Together.”

That is what we are seeing in the Ward. People of all walks of life are supporting Sean. We have our signs being placed next to all mayoral candidates; we are seeing residents of Edgemont stealing signs on public property to place on their front lawns. We are getting daily phone calls from people who simply want to tell Sean he has their support, and emails from people who want to know where they can go vote for Sean.

This civic election is not about the standard left vs. right division that divided the last council, it is right vs. wrong, common sense vs. waste that is driving Sean’s message, and we are seeing the results. People are supporting Sean, because they see that he is genuine, and wants to see common sense return to City Hall.

We are seeing a 3 way split for the mayoral seat, we are seeing blue, teal, and purple revolutions in the past couple of days pick up steam, and we are seeing this revolution come to Ward 4; Sean’s supporters are coming from all three of those camps. They want positive change at City Hall, and they want common sense, and fiscal accountability to be the norm.

We are seeing this positive interest in youth to. Having Sean talk about the reception he received at the St. Helena Junior High School on Tuesday, was amazing. Kids were high fiving Sean down the hall way, they called out his name, and one kid came up to Sean and said he took a sign because he wanted to keep it…and he had to wait for the applause to die down before he spoke. This is unheard of.

“Making A Difference…Together” is coming true in Ward 4.

I hope that when you go to the polls on Monday, that you look at Sean’s community work, his commitment to the Ward, and see that he has been a true advocate for Ward 4.

To be Alderman, one needs to move beyond the notion that Ward boundaries are the only issue that needs to be focused on. It is about acknowledging that the issues that affect one Ward are shared by all. We may live in different quadrants, but we are all Calgarian’s.

To be a great Alderman, one needs to have the passion, the love for ones community, and most importantly that you go into politics for the right reasons. There is politics than there is statesmanship, never forget that.

- Transparency

- Fiscal Responsibility

- Crime and Safety

- Snow Removal

- The Peace Bridge

- The City Gym

- The Airport Tunnel

-Public Transportation

-Traffic Congestion

- Parking Fees

- Herbicide Use

- Education Taxes

The campaign has placed more large signs over the past couple of days, and with more going out tomorrow.

With the campaign kicking into high gear with 4 days to go, we are on the home stretch. Thanks to everyone that has come out to support Sean, it has been a long 7 month process, and with 4 days to go, things are only going to get busier.

We have posted lots of Sean’s polices on our website, they are under the ‘Priorities’ tab, and you just have to click on the link to bring the pdf. file up.

In the last couple of days, I want to reiterate the message that Sean started his campaign on “Making A Difference…Together.”

The campaign has stuck to that message, and we are seeing the results. The campaign team is seeing large support for Sean all over the Ward, and indeed in other Wards. Our lawn signs are still being requested, and we had a great group of MLA’s and volunteers come out for our door knocking/lit drop blitz last Saturday, with one more to go this Saturday.

One common theme is appearing when I talk to people in the Ward: they are supporting Sean, because he is down to earth, and just wants to see common sense return to City Hall. People are leaving positive comments about the brochure they received in the mail, the policies that are on the website, and I am getting daily phone calls from people, who just want to say that they are supporting Sean.

Talking to Sean tonight, he said he was still amazed at what happened at St. Helena Junior High School yesterday. He arrived early, and students in the hallway were calling out his name, high-fiving him, and that he got a great applause from students at the school assembly.

Every day we go door knocking, the response at the door has been even more amazing. People already know who Sean is, and tell Sean he has their support.

Finally, keeping with his campaign message of “Making A Difference…Together” I am seeing a rare phenomena happen in Ward 4. Sean’s signs are being located next mayoral candidates signs on private property. This represents that campaign message of working together. Simple ideas, common sense, and passion to make a real difference, is what Ward 4 residents and Calgarian’s want in their next council. The time for positive change, common sense, and passion to get things done is what will be brought to City Hall in 4 days time.