The Battle for Bedford

by Tim Outhit, Halifax Magazine, July/August 2008

The Decision to Run

Several veteran politicians told me that it’s never a good time for an election. They were right—the May 3 byelection could not have come at a worse time for me and my family! We had been planning a winter vacation, Novaknowledge (where I’m president and CEO) was in the middle of an office move and the release of two reports, my wife was marking papers and had a report due, and I was recovering from two broken toes and bronchitis. And on top of all of that, we had all the activities of our two children.

When I confirmed that Ed McHugh was not going to run again, I decided to it was time to reach for my longtime goal of running for office. I have always believed that if you want to see progress (or if you want to complain about the lack of it) you must be willing to step up and take action. I believed I could use my experience in relationship building and consensus-building to move Bedford forward. (I also believed that I was the underdog, but as we were beginning to see in the U.S., it was the year of the underdog!)

The Issues

We kicked off my campaign with a house full of supporters on April 3 and from that day forward, things just seemed to fly. My objective was to run a positive and inclusive campaign with representatives from all demographics across our community, using many innovative communications methods and especially reaching out to youth. I had support from many involved Bedford residents; they came with diverse backgrounds, interests and political philosophies. We quickly determined that I should base my platform on the leadership, commitment and focus on action that I had demonstrated through my work at Novaknowledge, as well as during my seven years as president of the Ridgevale Homeowners Association.

We knew residents of Bedford were frustrated with the slow progress on issues like infrastructure, recreational facilities, proactive policing and public transportation, so we decided these would be the pillars of our campaign. The emergence of the Bedford Community Council Association indicated the level and depth of citizens’ concerns. Residents were looking for leadership, action, sustainable solutions and new ideas. These attributes also were a critical part of our campaign strategy.

We were determined to stay the course, stay on message and focus on the issues. After stickers declaring “full-time councillor” were added to Matt’s signs, there was certainly pressure to make this an issue. However, the team decided we should focus on what we were hearing on the doorsteps and on the qualities that were needed for an effective councillor. We emphasized my profile as a proven leader in the ads we placed in newspapers and magazines.

Highlights

I was thrilled by the way a team of volunteers came together to advise and help me. Most had no campaign or political experience but were leaders within their organizations or professions. As the campaign progressed, many Bedfordites who were already heavily involved in their community found time to volunteer for me.

Our use of Facebook and the website YouTube for TimTV marked our campaign as different. Ultimately, these new media portals helped us win the election by engaging young people and new residents, many of whom had never voted in a municipal election.

Receiving calls, visits, and e-mails from residents with questions about my platform who had clearly taken time to read my website or literature was extremely gratifying. My wife and I both appreciated invitations to many charity and meet-and-greet events throughout Bedford. I thoroughly enjoyed that door-to-door canvassing and interacting with residents in places like the pharmacy, gym or even the grocery store. I discovered that any conversation is a great occasion to hear new ideas (and words of encouragement, too). An added benefit of “pounding the pavement” was losing 12 pounds along the way.

Another highlight was being given the opportunity to address an economics class at CP Allen High School on why I was running for Council and how my experience in economic development provided a strong advantage. I was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and knowledgeable questions.

A very productive one-one-one meeting with Mayor Kelly was an enjoyable and valuable experience. I was thoroughly impressed by his passion for Bedford and his understanding of our issues and opportunities. In addition, I met with several councillors, who were all helpful and supportive.

Disappointments & Challenges

It was a short campaign and I would have liked to have had more time to knock on more doors. However, I did reach over 2,000 homes across Bedford.One of the things that Matt and I agreed on was that the byelection was necessary (see the Straight Talk section of www.bedfordleader.com for an overview). I suspect that we were both pleased when 24 per cent voted on election day instead of the 11 per cent who voted in another the recent HRM by-election.

A funny incident occurred when Matt and I literally met in the middle of the road in Oakmount one Saturday. We joked about what would happen to the by-election if both candidates were run over while talking on the street!

The misinformation that circulates during a campaign is always disappointing, as are the games played with campaign signage.

The misinformation included the suggestion that I only cared about the newer areas of Bedford or that Novaknowledge was a “hippie organization” (which was news to the many business, academic and government leaders on our board). Among the rubbish was the claim that I was part of a movement against Mayor Kelly and we dealt with it through the Q&A section of the campaign website.

Oddly enough, I was called both a “hippie” and a “yuppie with big business ties.” I decided I was fine with both terms: I am a business person with business training who happens to have a strong social conscience and a strong desire for a sustainable economy for Nova Scotia. As for the attempts to cover up our signs, we ignored them even though a volunteer had spotted who was responsible.

Touching & Tough Moments

The woman jogging on Campbell Drive who came up to the car to tell me that she was running to the poll to vote for me “after hearing my passion during the interview on CBC Radio.” The woman on Madison Drive who was upset she could not vote for me because there was no wheelchair available at the poll. (She was not able to walk after spending fourteen hours in an emergency room waiting for treatment for a damaged appendix!)

The desperate call from a family on Giles Road, unable to use their well for water as a result of damage allegedly caused by blasting.The frustration and disillusionment of residents whose children had never played a soccer or hockey “home game” due to the lack of facilities in Bedford.

The residents in the areas off Holland and off Meadowbrook areas looking for help with their crumbling pavement and ditches, poor lighting, overgrown ditches, rat sightings, and litter. This is not acceptable in these wonderful old areas!

We lost Scott McElman from the campaign team when his father died suddenly. He was a valuable asset and I look forward to working with him in October. The most touching moment was my visit with Bruce Emberly only a couple of weeks before he passed away at the age of 50. Some will remember him as Sidney Crosby’s greatest fan. I will remember him as the man who had his wife call me on election day to apologize that he was too ill to go vote for me. I was moved and humbled at the same time. He was quite a guy!

Lessons Learned

I could have communicated better with some members of the Bedford Community Council Association. However, I continue to support the organization and its original objectives.

I was disappointed there never was an all-candidates’ debate during the campaign, despite requests from several groups. I felt strongly this should happen: a debate is an opportunity to highlight platform differences, compare relevant education and experience, show one’s ability to handle tough questions, illustrate knowledge of issues, demonstrate campaign transparency and quash misinformation!

The success of a candidate is largely due to the volunteers on his or her team. If it were not for Stephanie Nowe Morris, Gary Kelly, my wife Sandra, my sister Sarah, my daughters Elizabeth and Emily, Bill MacLean, and the creative genius of Paul and Jean St-Amand, I simply would not have won. Supporting me was an outstanding official agent, veteran politicians from all parties, a team of diligent fundraisers, telephone and door-to-door canvassers, inside agents, sign masters (including the now-famous TimTV star Eugene Belyea) and event hosts. They won the byelection in Bedford!