As for where Mr. Diotte lives, you can wait for a response here, or hit him up at this website: http://kerrydiotte.com

So let’s discuss some issues. Yeah, you’ve noted in your blog I’ve got a legal action against my employer but let’s take it from there.

That wasn’t taken lightly and I’ve decided to go from journalism into politics.

There have been a few people who took that avenue — including Ralph Klein, Rene Levesque and even Pierre Trudeau. Regardless of what you think of their politics, I believe they did OK taking the plunge from journalism to politics. It’s all about ideas. And we journalists have a few of them.

I gave everything I could to journalism when I was involved in that. I volunteered to head up the local chapter of the Canadian Association of Journalists when few other people cared and was a national director of the CAJ for years. I put in a lot of hours for a good cause.

I did that because I believed in a cause…that journalism is a vital aspect of our democracy.

What you do and what I did is vital.

I still believe that very strongly. Now I have chosen another field and I will dedicate myself full-bore to being the best politician I can be. I know that sounds like an oxymoron to people, but I really want to make a difference.

As a politician, I will do the best I can to be good for taxpayers and good to journalists. It’s all about public accountability.

So, long story short, give me a chance to debate my campaign platform as opposed to a labour dispute between me and my former employer. It’s now before the courts and they will decide what they decide.

At the doors in Edmonton in Ward 11 I’m hearing there’s concern about public safety, core services — such as roads and transit — and increases in taxes that exceed the rate of inflation. Those are the concerns of regular folks I will take to city hall.

I really do respect what you folks are doing with this website — to get the debate and discussion going. I invite feedback to http://www.kerrydiotte.com.

Thanks for doing what you’re doing and let’s continue the discussion on the issues long before people mark their ballot on Oct. 18.

It’s important. Thanks.

Cheers,
-Kerry

There are a few others names in the race, and we’ll probably see more through the summer. Check Alex’s predictions, which include some of the already declared candidates: http://alexabboud.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/pyramid-power-ranking-the-2010-edmonton-city-council-races/

We just have to figure out what we’re doing first.

Perhaps we could arrange a meeting with your group to co-ordinate our resources and coverage for the election?

Kenn Bur
C2E Co-chair