ArtsVote Niagara survey has only two respondents from St. George's ward

So, another survey came our way about a month ago. This one from ArtsVote Niagara. The results were released yesterday and it seems that only two candidates (myself and an incumbent) took the time to respond.

I received an "A", the highest grade a non-incumbent can receive, as did a few of the non-incumbents in other wards.

To view the report card compiled by ArtsVote Niagara, please visit this website: http://www.artsvoteniagara.ca/home.html

Here is the link to Monique Beech's article: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2806378, as well as the full story pasted below:

Evaluating the arts on the election trail

By MONIQUE BEECH , STANDARD STAFF

When it comes to the arts and culture scene in St. Catharines, city council candidate Mark Elliott has been studying hard.

Over the past four years, the incumbent downtown ward councillor has made it his mission to sit on several cultural committees, from public art to the city's performing arts centre task force to the Rodman Hall advisory board.

Perhaps that's why the St. Patrick's ward hopeful has improved his grade on the ArtsVote Niagara survey, which sought the views of municipal election candidates on arts-related issues through an e-mail multiple choice survey. Results were released Monday.

Back in 2006, Elliott was given a B grade by the nonpartisan volunteer group composed of local artists, museum curators and other cultural representatives.

This time around, Elliott was awarded an A+ for his efforts -- the only candidate to do so in St. Catharines. To earn it, a candidate must be an incumbent who not only scored well on the survey, but has a solid arts and culture track record.

Elliott, who is a visual artist, said arts and culture have become a key issue in St. Catharines. Last year, funding was announced for a major joint performing arts complex between the municipality and Brock University. The university's arts school and the city's performing arts centre are being hailed as the catalyst to transform the Garden City's downtown and drive private investment in the city's core.

"Because of the nature of revitalization of downtown, I thought it was really important for myself as a councillor to be involved in all the committees that would have an impact on the revitalization," Elliott said.

He is not the only arts superstar, according to survey results.

ArtsVote Niagara surveyed 107 candidates running for mayors, council and Region in St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls and the regional municipality. School board candidates were also surveyed, but results were not available Monday.

St. Catharines was the only city where all candidates were asked to complete a survey.

Election contenders were asked a variety of arts-related questions, ranging from how often they see plays to whether they would cut arts funding if the economy crashed to whether the arts provides community gathering places.

Of the 107 candidates surveyed, 41 did not respond, but another 33 were given a grade of A or higher. An A grade denotes an arts advocate who sees the value of arts, culture and heritage to municipal life.

Outgoing Thorold mayor and Niagara regional candidate Henry D'Angela, Welland councillor turned mayoral hopeful David Alexander and Dave Lepp, who is seeking reelection in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a regional council seat, all earned A+ based on their survey responses and arts record over the past four years.

ArtsVote Niagara spokesman Stephen Remus said the idea behind the survey is to inform voters about issues surrounding arts and culture and where candidates stand on them before polls open Oct. 25.

Remus said the arts are often overlooked by municipal council candidates, who may see them as recreational activities rather than an economic and community force. But with the performing arts centre coming to St. Catharines, there's plenty for candidates to talk about, he said.

"Part of the ArtsVote survey process is also to educate the candidates about what's happening at the municipal level in the cultural sector," said Remus, head of the Niagara Artists Centre. "Hopefully, there's a deeper understanding of the cultural issues in Niagara."

The questions were created by the ArtsVote Niagara executive committee. The group ran similar surveys during the 2006 civic, 2007 provincial and 2008 federal elections.

For complete results of the ArtsVote survey and the questions asked, go to www.artsvoteniagara.ca.

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More online

To learn more about the candidates running for office in St. Catharines or to read past articles on the campaign leading to the Oct. 25 vote, visit our website at www.stcatharinesstandard.caand look under the Election 2010 header.

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Candidates' grades

Mayoral candidates

John Beam A

Alexander Davidoff R

David D'Intino D

Terry LeBlanc R+

Brian McMullan (incumbent)

St. Patrick's Ward 4 (where future performing arts centre will be housed)

John Bacher A

Scott Duff R+

Mark Elliott (incumbent) A+

RobertGeorge R

MathewSiscoe R

What the grades mean:

A+DAZZLING. Boldly champions arts, culture and heritage issues. Fully informed and engaged. This grade is reserved for incumbents or former incumbents who have proven integrity.

A OUTSTANDING. Advocates the value of the arts, culture and heritage to municipal life. Talks the talk and offers some evidence they will walk the walk.

B SOLID. Assumes some arts, culture or heritage-friendly positions. Has provided support and offered some degree of awareness of the importance of the sector.

C UNFAMILIAR. Arts, culture and heritage issues are not high on the priority list. The candidate is unfamiliar with the sector, or is reluctant to make commitments.

D INADEQUATE. Doesn't get it. Uninformed, uninterested and/or antagonistic toward the concerns and perspectives of artists or arts, heritage and culture workers.

F FAILURE. Really doesn't get it. Poses a potential danger to the health of the cultural sector.

R REMEDIAL ACTION REQUIRED. Did not return the survey or did not complete the survey, and failed to indicate why.

R+ REMEDIAL ACTION REQUIRED. Did not return the survey, or failed to complete all relevant questions, but has been or claims to be supportive of the cultural sector.

R-REMEDIAL ACTION REQUIRED. Did not return the survey, and expresses indifference or negative attitudes toward the creative sector.