In my TV room at home, I have a framed poster of Michael Baldasaro. Actually it’s a campaign poster from the 1997 municipal election. It’s presented like a “Wanted” poster from the old west.
“Wanted!” it screams. With a black and white picture of a ZZ top bearded Baldasaro wearing a cowboy hat.
“On Novermber 10th, 1997 Vote: Michael J. Baldasaro for Mayor of Guelph. Authorized by Brother Baldasaro and printed on 100% hemp.”
Of course it’s on hemp paper. Brother Michael and his buddy Brother Wally Tucker were/are ministers in the Assembly of the Church of the Universe. They worship marijuana as the “tree of life”.
They have a website and a Facebook page. He may even have more “friends” than Cam Guthrie.
Their history with Guelph is rich.
A former foundry in Guelph was abandoned by it’s owners and left to sit, contamination and all. An industrious businessman by the name of John Long purchased the property in 1992 with the intention of cleaning it up. After a protracted dispute with the City of Guelph, he sold the property to the Church for $1.
Brother Wally and Michael moved in and set up Hempire Village. A hippy like commune devoted to the production and consumption of pot.
Residents were outraged. They demanded action by the City of Guelph. So the City repossessed the property for failure to pay taxes and assumed ownership. Not much else has happened on the site since. Lots of studies buy no money or partnerships to do anything.
John Long realized he had a golden business opportunity. He purchased other foundry sites in other cities, threatening to let the Brothers set up shop unless the municipality paid him exorbitant amounts of money. It worked. For a while.
Long then went on to run unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party. No relevance, but an interesting sidebar.
Brother Michael, never shy of the media spotlight ran unsuccessfully for the Mayor’s seat against Joe Young.
He had ideas. Crazy ideas. Build a glass dome over the Downtown was probably his most grandiose. Brought a good laugh to the campaign but no one took him too seriously. He made us laugh, but he had our attention.
“Big Box” Billy Craven was a one issue mayoral candidate. He wanted a Wal-Mart and he wanted it now. Well 2003 now. He lost that race to Kate Quarrie who did get the Wal-Mart built, but not much else constructive happened under her watch.
Billy was a straight talking self-effacing baseball loving guy. He knew he wasn’t going to win but he had a sense of humour. He added to the colour of the campaign. He had an issue and we couldn’t ignore it.
in 2010, Ray Mitchell has put his name forward for Mayor. He is not spending any money on his campaign and has stated that he has no intention of winning.
I like Ray, Unibomber good looks aside. I have known him for many years. He has a colourful history in Guelph with his business and his self styled attitude. Ray has an opinion on everything. Including me. I wouldn’t expect less.
I have attended several mayoral debates with Ray and the other candidates. The one message that Ray is trying to articulate is poverty is alive and well in Guelph and something needs to be done.
Unfortunately this is being clouded by other campaign distractions. Some distractions are of his own doing, others are not.
Ray has the spotlight. He can do with it whatever he wants. The media is clearly watching.
It’s too bad that he didn’t follow the stylings of New York State gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan and really make a statement that poverty is the issue that we should be focusing on.
It might have been the issue that Guelphites could not ignore. ian