HawthorneVillager.com

Over my 7 years in Milton, I have been impressed with Councillor Zeeshan Hamid. He is responsive, helpful and accessible, even here. I don't live in his ward, but think part of the success of newer Councillors like DiLorenzo, Cluett and Hamid are due, in part, to their active prescence in social media and here.

I don't have an issue with a sitting Councillor running for a provincial MPP or federal MPP while staying as a Councillor. I understand Zeeshan is running to be the local Federal Liberal Candidate and I hope there will be a healthy debate on the merits of POLICY ideas.

I don't want US-style attacks on opponents. With that, I do have a concern with how he has characterized his opponents in his nomination battle for Liberal MP candidate. Not US-style or Harper-style attack, but more of clever back-handed comments yet still a character/personal attacks:

Q. Is prior political experience really important when running for MP?

Yes. When you get sick do you visit your doctor or your accountant? If you enter a new field, do you first gain experience or apply directly for upper management?

Candidates promising improvements to transit, roads, hospital and schools either don’t realize they are running for a wrong level of government or are intentionally deceiving voters, I am not sure which one is worse.

Most of my opponents have good intentions. Unfortunately when it comes to qualification, intentions are not enough.

Q. In your opinion, what should voters look for?

Candidates are applying for a job and voters are hiring managers. Like any good hiring manager, ask for our resumes. I am the only candidate with knowledge, qualification and experience.

You don’t hire someone to reward them for something unrelated, you hire them because they are qualified.

By this measure, the Liberal leader Trudeau shouldn't have run for MP before a stint as a local Councillor. He was a teacher, a hard working under-valued profession in many ways, and ran for MP. Yes, he had legacy to help, but he wasn't someone with elected poltical experience (yet).

Again, I like Zeeshan's work as a Councillor generally, but I can't believe his response would be so elitist and so un-Zeeshan. (P.S. I am politicaly agnostic as I get older and have not decided which of the 3 main parties to support in the 2015 Federal election. I don't believe in not voting, so I have a lot of thinking to do over the next several months)

Hamid is not entitled to be the Federal Liberal MP candidate because he is/was a Councillor first; nor are his opponents disqualifiied because the weren't in any elected office before. Yes, I understand he has a lead in the polls, which makes his elitist comments in the Milton Villager less than humble.

I welcome Zeeshan's comments here. I really have tried to be fair and honest in how I characterized my views of his interview. I don't mean to offend, but understand the intention behind this comments if the words themselves conveyed an unintended message (that I articulated above).

Zeeshan the Councillor is a politician I respect; I don't recognize Zeeshan the Federal Liberal MP candidate aspirant.

How you say it is important.

How would have you done it differently?

My opponents and I bring different skills and experiences to our nominations. I think I am the most qualified in part because I have experience as a municipal councillor. While having direct political experience isn't a prerquiste for this nomination, I think it does help and allows me to understand how governments work; we work closely with all levels of government as councillors. It really is up local Liberals to decide if my municipal experience and proven track record are pluses for my nomination. I'm proud of what I have done for our growing community. [Include achievements from time as a councillor]

Agreed, this clearly points out why he is better, without leaving the reader to do a sh*t ton of research. People ain't got time fo dat.

Tone is important. The tones of his response and mine are different. We can quibble on words. You are entitled to your opinion, of course. I just expected more statesmanly language from Zeeshan than he used in that.

Tony Lambert? Who's that? :p So glad he's no longer on Council.

Zeeshan's blurbs don't talk about why he's better, but why his opponents haven't earned the right to be the Federal Liberal MP candidate.

There is a difference between building your self up by talking about your records vs. building yourself up by tearing your opponents down. The latter is more of a Harper-like approach. I didn't expect that from Zeeshan.

Actually, if you took the time to read before your racist rantings you would have seen "My constituents saw the informed, committed and responsive representation I provided over the last 2 terms and asked me to step up because they want the same in Ottawa." or "I am the only candidate with knowledge, qualification and experience."

He clearly states why he is better, perhaps you couldn't seem them through all the burning crosses.

Clearly you didn't read the original post which talked about how I like Zeeshan as a councillor. In addition, I liked his other quotes in the piece. I only included here the ones I thought were not inclusive or representative of his usual communications.

While I only visit this forum from time to time, I'm sorry to see that some trolls here try to supress meaningful discussion on areas we may see differently.

Only posting the quotes that push your point of view is not very objective now is it, nor does it accurately depict what he was saying. At best, it was FOX esque journalism. You clearly said "Zeeshan's blurbs don't talk about why he's better, but why his opponents haven't earned the right to be the Federal Liberal MP candidate." yet in the very same article it shows him doing exactly that. I am not sure if you think we are idiots or if you are that retarded yourself.

I clearly included this in my original thread (emphasis added):



I was very specific about what I had an issue with. I also included positives about Zeeshan in that post as well.

Anyhow, you have your view. I respect the fact you can read the same thing as me and see something different.

First, Zeeshan, thank you taking the time to respond.

I agree with you about "relevant" experience, for sure. I think it was this comment that, for me, was quite dismissive of all of your opponents: "Yes. When you get sick do you visit your doctor or your accountant? If you enter a new field, do you first gain experience or apply directly for upper management?"

I do agree about calling out the policy planks of other opponents; certainly if they are factually incorect and/or reflect a lack of understanding about which level of government does what.



I understand that a personal attack was not intended. I'm only sharing how I read it. I do also know that there is a lot of context behind your words, as you explained in the first response to my post, that we may not be privy too as nomination battles don't get a whole of attention. I also understand the sound-bite culture politicians are in, the pressure to be brief, and that comments in two of your answers came off to me in a way that you didn't intend them to. You intended them to showcase policy differences where I found, for example, the accountant/doctor opening undercutting that policy discussion.



I believe that was your intention, but I think we're debating about a distinction without a difference in terms of this quote: "Yes. When you get sick do you visit your doctor or your accountant? If you enter a new field, do you first gain experience or apply directly for upper management?"



I wasn't taking issue with all of your quotes, just those that came off as dismissive of your competitors personally. Anyhow, from your responses here, I understand what you meant by those comments. My view is that those intentions weren't received by me in the way you intended, but I trust you and believe what you have articulated here.

We have discussed things here before a long while ago. I don't dislike or disagree with you generally, as I noted in my opening comments. I just took issue with part of the the wording of two of your responses. I appreciate that you took the time to state your views.

I wish you well in your nomination battle. I also appreciate that despite our disagreement, we can have a respectful dialogue here about this.

I read the article as well. Alhamdolillah, that's a phenomenal beard, Zeeshan, lol, but with so little sleep, this must mean you barely see your familia. And boo to Justin Trudeau, lol. I would never vote for that guy, but very nice to see that you are so passionate about your community.

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What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care.

Zee
Just a bit confused. The article states that you have served as a councillor for "the last two terms". Your vote zee.ca website lists you as having been elected first in 2010. Municipal elections are for a 4 year period. Can you please explain how I am misunderstanding this contradiction?

This term and last term.

2 terms.

Move on.