I just got back in from out in the rain … picking up lawn signs. I didnt realize I had so many! HA!
The weather didnt help either as it began pouring around 1130 when I decided to call it a night. If I have missed any signs, please give me a call or email and I’ll be by soon to pick it up.
Over the past couple of days I have caught up on some much needed sleep and answering many emails that have come in as well. Theres an old saying that “When you win, you hear from everyone…when you lose you hear from your friends.” Thank you to everyone who sent me an email or called. Its much appreciated.
Election night was very stressful indeed. Pat, Anthony, my friend Mike and I sat down around 8pm to watch the results at home on TV Cogeco. Usually the results trickle in but with the new voting machines…they came in all at once. Not the result we wanted, but I was very pleased with the level of my support. To those of you who voted for me, many thanks.
Afterwards I headed out to the Milton Seniors Centre to congratulate Rick and Brian. I spoke with Rick for some time and he asssured me that 4 years passes in a blink of an eye and encouraged me to stay involved. Dont worry Rick … I will ! 🙂
I had just missed Brian so I headed out to Ned Devine’s to watch the rest of the TV Cogeco coverage and low and behold…there Brian was on TV….so I hustled around the building to the other side and met with him and his wife to give them my best wishes. It was a great campaign…I am very proud of it as never once were there any low blows as we’ve seen in other wards. Good clean fun.
Now begins the process of analyzing the numbers…where did I go wrong, what could I hve done better? So much can be read from the numbers of the election…92 votes shy. That IS close. Here’s the breakdown.
This poll is from the Milton Sports Centre.
COUNCILLOR WARD 1
Times Counted 429/1718 25.0 % Turnout
Total Votes 748
Brian PENMAN 254 33.96%
Richard DAY 238 31.82%
Greg NELSON 145 19.39%
Mike CLUETT 84 11.23%
Eugene CUMMINS 27 3.61%
This poll is from the Royal Ontario Golf Club
COUNCILLOR WARD 1
Times Counted 248/1037 23.9 % Turnout
Total Votes 389
Richard DAY 154 39.59%
Brian PENMAN 133 34.19%
Greg NELSON 67 17.22%
Mike CLUETT 26 6.68%
Eugene CUMMINS 9 2.31%
This is the poll from Hawthorne Village PS.
COUNCILLOR WARD 1
Times Counted 1039/4991 20.8 % Turnout
Total Votes 1672
Richard DAY 455 27.21%
Mike CLUETT 418 25.00%
Greg NELSON 357 21.35%
Brian PENMAN 354 21.17%
Eugene CUMMINS 88 5.26%
This is the poll from Guardian Angels Catholic School
COUNCILLOR WARD 1
Times Counted 905/4123 22.0 % Turnout
Total Votes 1387
Mike CLUETT 423 30.50%
Greg NELSON 319 23.00%
Richard DAY 318 22.93%
Brian PENMAN 272 19.61%
Eugene CUMMINS 55 3.97%
Ive been asked what I’m most disappointed about with the results. The obvious choice is I didnt win. The main thing I was disappointed with is the voter turnout. It was, on a percentage basis, lower than 2003. That election saw 25% of ward one vote. The total voters in that election was about 6,000 and now were closer to 12,000. I guess the eternal question would be how do we get people to vote in municipal elections? Most people have said they dont understand or they dont know whos running or they didnt have time. Ive heard some people say they didnt see any reason to vote for anyone?
Over the next while, I would like to find out from people why they didnt come out to the polls that day. I dont want to sound preachy about it, Im just very curious. If you didnt vote, send me an email mike@mikecluett.ca and let me know.
To answer some of the other questions Ive been getting, yes I will be updating the blog … maybe not as regular as during the election … but it will be updated. I’ll be keeping up to date with the happenings at town hall … how they affect us in ward one. I will also be working with as many people as possible to get the Citizens Advisory Committee’s up and running.
It was one of my campaign promises and I’d like to have one of these start so we can begin the improvement of communication process for the town of Milton.
I’ll talk to you soon.