Another incumbent city councillor's had a change of heart. Albro Lake-Harbourview councillor Jim Smith has decided not to run in next month's municipal election. The 60 year old Smith has represented the area on city council for 12 years. He cites several reasons for his decision, including a personal matter, but Smith's not elaborating on his decision. Smith was up against the venerable Gloria McCluskey and three other candidates running in the reconfigured Dartmouth Centre riding. He may have read the writing on the wall and figured it was best to go out with head held high rather than face defeat at the polls.
Smith is the second incumbent in a week to drop out of the race. Over in Halifax Debbie Hum announced she will not re-offer. Both say they have no specific future plans, though both have run provincially for office. Two other incumbent councillors, Jerry Blumenthal and Bob Harvey, announced sometime ago they were retiring from political office
The deadline to get your name on the ballot for the October 20th municipal election is a week from today. All eyes will be on Mayor Peter Kelly to see if the speculation is true. It's beleived Kelly is considering running for a council seat and will challenge Tim Outhit in Bedford. Kelly's insisting he hasn't strayed from his decision in the spring to call it a day, announcing he won't re-offer as mayor, but at the same time he won't categorically say he will not run for the council seat. Stay tuned.
There's been another BB gun shooting. Just a few days after someone shot at a moving car on the 102 with a BB or pellet gun, a pedestrian was shot early Sunday morning near the West End Mall. While police were on the scene, a second victim informed them he too had been hit with a pellet while walking near Horseshoe Island off Quinpool. Police did make an arrest in the case. two 18 year olds and a 17 year old were picked up and a bb gun seized from a vehicle.
Things got a little testy during a traffic checkpoint early Sunday morning on St Margarets Bay Road. Police arrested a car's driver for possessing a stolen license plate when his two passengers got out of the vehicle shouting threats and obsenities at the RCMP. One got back in the car, but the other refused. Nothing a little pepper spray couldn't handle and the 21 year old faces charges including resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
Enjoy today kids because tomorrow it's back to school. Wow, where did the summer go? Some businesses say todya's one of their busiest shopping days of the year as parents and their kids scramble to get their school supplies at the last minute. The school board says any parents who cannot afford the many supplies required can check with their school's administration to see what can be done for them. The bill for school supplies can easily top $200 or $300.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
