Dudy and Milobar — a tale of two mayoral hopefuls

Let’s take a serious look at the men (I wish I could say men and women, but there hasn’t been a female candidate for mayor since 1999, and only one woman has ever been elected to the City’s top job) who wish to be mayor.

There are two candidates in this mayoral election — Peter Milobar and Dieter Dudy. Two other names are on the ballot, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who believes they’re much more than light entertainment.

By that I intend no offence; I merely acknowledge the obvious.

The incumbent mayor and his last-minute-but-in-it-to-win-it challenger are as different as chalk and cheese, on policy and as people.

Milobar is an unassuming fellow (his biography on the TNRD site consists of his email address) in an imposing frame. I once went to Ottawa to lobby for Tournament Capital funding and had Milobar and Byron McCorkell along as backup. As we traipsed around Parliament Hill, we were pretty sure we looked like somebody important flanked by his two burly bodyguards. Nobody messed with us.

Milobar acknowledges his shyness. Dudy calls himself “a thoughtful, gregarious individual.”

Milobar, fundamentally easy going and self-effacing, has become, over the past year, impatient with dissenters, whether it be the media, non-conformers like Occupy Kamloops or members of his own council (he found it hard to stop taking pot shots at Denis Walsh over the parking issue whenever he got in front of a microphone at a public event).

Mr. Nice Guy has become Mayor Crankypants.

Dudy provides a clue to his own style when he characterizes himself as a “good listener” and a “sounding board.” However, if he was on the receiving end of as much belligerence, sarcasm and censure as Milobar has (that, after all, is pretty much routine for any mayor on any Monday morning) maybe Dudy would be cranky, too.

There are other differences. Dudy’s favourite colour is green. Milobar’s is blue. I’m unable to discern whether there’s any significance in that.

They enjoy different food groups, as well — Dudy grows vegetables for a living; Milobar has a dessert named after him.

Milobar is a townie, Dudy is a rural dweller. Milobar has a swimming pool (who wouldn’t love to have a swimming pool right outside the back patio), Dudy has a tractor (a McCormick, I believe, good, solid, no-nonsense machine).

Milobar wears a stud in one ear, Dudy, I’m betting, wears overalls.

Milobar, of course, has nine years experience on City council. Dudy has none, though he does have other community credentials. It would be an interesting study to look at whether, historically, previous political experience has proven a plus or a minus.

But they do have things in common. Both have funny names. And while I like to jest about Milobar’s lack of fashion sense, I’ve found no reason to believe Dudy would be much improvement on that score, though I’m told he might have potential.

Public-speaking-wise, they’re pretty much on a par.

Both run successful businesses.

More importantly, they’re both good people (with Milobar, I’m going on the fact I’ve known him throughout his political career, with Dudy I’m going by what other people say) who could both do the job.

Have fun deciding.