Afternoon all!

If you didn't know: My campaign has come to an end. I'm proud to have worked hard and finished with 1048 votes or 20.37%, Steven Cooke won with 1247 votes or 24.24 %. I was hoping for the win, but in the end ran out of votes as there was only 21% voter turnout(4 less votes than 2010).

My goal was to increase that voter turnout % but failed in the process. It looks like only a small percentage of you vote and the rest??? Who knows...

I will continue to be active in the community that I live in and hopefully will help make a positive impact. Thank you again to all those who supported me; my family, my friends, my new acquaintances and my supporters; for continually fixing damaged or missing signs and beieving in me. I hope that the new ward 1 rep will bring a positive change and be the voice that ward 1 wants and needs!

Who knows what the future holds, but I will tell you that 2018 cannot come sooner 😀

Sami Elhajjeh

Over 6000 website hits, 15 lbs lost, shoe soles majorly worn, 2 episodes of losing my voice, multiple physio appts to help an inflamed tendon from pounding the pavement, over 8500 pieces of literature given and most importantly; countless, many, great chats with you the residents of ward 1.

I just wanted to say thank you to my family, friends, volunteers and residents who have supported me on this journey.

My goal at the start of this campaign was to knock on 100% of the doors in this ward. Not send mailouts, not stand on the corner waving signs...no, I wanted to meet YOU, talk to you,and hear your issues. I live in ward 1 and wanted to meet all of you so that, if elected, we could work collaboratively to make this community a better place to live, work, play and grow....TOGETHER!

Unfortunately, I did not get to my goal. But I'm proud to say that after all the hard work I knocked on around 85-90% of the doors(please see the pic below). Those of you who have taken the time to talk to me or listen, I greatly appreciate it!

There are a lot of issues in Ward 1 that need to be adressed, and ward 1 needs someone who lives in the area who can accurately, professionally & passionately communicate these issues and be your voice on council.

I'm proud of the respectful, mature, professional, honest campaign I ran. Whichever way the vote lands, I am proud to have ran, and proud to have impacted the community in a positive light.

I am going to continue to work hard and, if elected, am proud to represent the hard working community of Ward 1!

VOTE for the candidate who will represent you the people of ward.

VOTE Sami Elhajjeh

More signs and political gimmicks do not represent substance.

Here's an article from 2006:

http://m.durhamregion.com/news-story/3491584-one-ward-1-candidates-removes-signs-from-public-property/

Maybe in the next 2018 municipal election there will be a 'NO signs on public property by-law' and only signs that will be allowed will be on supporters lawns but who knows if that will even help. If you don't already know I've had to replace over 30 signs on supporters lawns, not public property...no..no..no! On the private property of supporters. The removal seems intentional as other candidates signs are on public property footsteps away.

There was a recent article in wednesdays paper regarding one candidates vandalized signs: I'm not going to paste it as it's biased and one sided. After speaking with all the 'other' candidates (yes we all talk to each other and have an open dialogue), to which we've all had signs: destroyed, missing, vandalized, disassembled etc. we got the local paper to write this follow-up article.

Please check out http://pages.cdn.pagesuite.com/4/5/45843732-e21d-480b-a057-ff7ff84a2b99/page.pdf

Although the first article was technically free advertising I, as well as the other 3 other candidates, appreciated the author of (both the biased and unbiased) article contacting us wednesday to hear ALL sides for the above story in yesterdays paper.

It's an unfortunate incident but I'm sure it happens all the time during election so it shouldn't have garnered a one sided story from a 'unbiased' local news source.

As a voter you shouldn't be voting based on signs or promotional gimmicks anyways right? I'm offended when I see promotional gimmicks! It's offensive to the intelligence of you..the voter!

Sign colour representing political affiliation, standing on the corner waving signs(when did attracting votes become like selling pizzas?), a fake letter with an endorsement from a(obviously biased) wife and the sheer quantity of signs. As a voter who cares about my community, observing this not only insults the hard work that I've put in (pounding the pavement), but also my intelligence! It is also very unprofessional.

A sign is just that..a sign!

Go deeper and find substance. Vote for the person who will bring the most to the position and the community: experience, knowledge, intelligence, education, and professionalism is what I look for in representation. Vote for the person who's running an honest campaign, who's not using gimmicks to sway and trick YOU, the voter. Vote for the person who lives in your ward, who knows the needs of the community.

My goal at the beginning of this election was to talk to every one of you..knocking on your door and introducing myself, and if you weren't home - I left my post card, and if you didn't receive a post card - you will in the next couple of days as i'm at almost 85% of doors knocked on. I'm not sending flyers in the mail, I'm not taking ads out in the paper, I'm not on the corner waving signs, I WANT to talk to you! I want you to hear my goals, and ideas I have for this community to make it better for all of us.

It's easily understood for mailouts to occur with those regional/mayoral candidates with much larger areas, but if you're running for a local ward and sending mail outs or flyers in the paper. That's just laziness because you don't want to do all the leg work.

Those of you that have seen me personally and talked to me already know the passion that I have.

This blog is not meant to offend, I'm just a hardworking, Courtice local who is talking from the heart. I want to see less distractions and more solutions.

On Oct 27th don't vote for gimmicks, don't vote for signs, VOTE for the person you think will do the best job to represent the community.

What does Clarington ward 1 need?

The answer to that is:

A hardworking, educated, passionate individual who sees/wants a brighter future for EVERYONE in the Municipality of Clarington. I live in ward 1 and know the needs because I've spoken to you, its residents.

I have over 10 years of experience in the public health sector. That means I worked for you: providing excellent customer service, handling hazards that impact health(air quality, water quality, food safety), investigating outbreaks involving the elderly and immunocompromised, maintaining budgets, presenting new initiatives to council & boards of health and creating policy that has impacted residents on a postive note every day. Ensuring that the health of residents is paramount!

I will continue to work hard and discuss all matters with residents. If you look around you'll see my signs on residents lawns; this is a great show of support that I am working hard to meet my goal - to better the community for all residents of Clarington.

On October 27th VOTE ELHAJJEH

Are you excited as I am?

Early voting will be taking place this coming saturday october 18th as well as October 21: both at the Courtice Community Complex on Courtice rd.

As a ward 1 community let's show Clarington that we WANT to vote. Let's aim for over a 60% voter turnout.

Whether I win or lose, if I help raise the voter turnout rate higher than what it was in 2010 - 31.48% I would be proud.

Don't forget to visit www.clarington.net to ensure you're on the voters list.

Let's work together, tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbours....tell whoever will listen that it's important to get out there and vote for who you want to represent YOU!

I am so thankful and appreciative of all the support that I have been receiving as of late. I canvassed today and met alot of great families who want to see a positive change in the community. I'm humbled and appreciative that they stand behind and believe in me.

This is not a THANK YOU to just this family but a THANK YOU to everyone in the community!

While canvassing, I noticed many people were concerned that they hadn't received their voter cards yet. I advised them as well as you: to please check the Clarington website to ensure that you have the right to take part in this municipal election.

Here's the link http://votersearch.clarington.net/onvoterlist.php

Or contact 905-623-3379 ext VOTE

Don't forget early voting starts Oct 18, 2014

Not too much time left! Early voting is around the corner - Oct 18th, 2014.

The support that i've been receiving is absolutely humbling. Keep up the support everyone and I promise you I'll keep up the hardwork!

Hey everyone. Keep Oct 15th from 7-9pm open in your calendars. Come meet myself and other ward 1 candidates at Faith United church at 1778 Nash road in Courtice.

There won't be a debate, no speeches. Simply a meet and great where you can Ask questions and get to know candidates. Your vote in this years election will help vote in a new ward 1 councillor who will represent YOU for the next four years.

Do your research before hand and make an educated decision come voting day. More residents who show up the better! So tell your friends. Feel free to contact me if there are any questions.

Vote Elhajjeh

Keep Oct 18th and the subsequent days in your calendar open folks. As Clarington residents you will have the power to elect council. All my fellow ward 1 ers will also have the power to elect a NEW representstive. Do your research on who you want to represent YOU! It's not about how many signs you see it's about who will represent you better, who has the education and experience to further the community that we live in and love!

I encourage and have encouraged open discussions and thank you for all the questions and suggestions.

If elected as your ward 1 councillor, I know my public health education and experience will be utilized to make our community a better place to live!

A huge thank you for the support. I am thankful and appreciative of all the strong words of support, feedback and positivity!

As a member of the Ontario Public Health Standards,I talk a little about Built Environments on my website. An active individual myself, I am extremely supportive of Active Communities. Therefore I have taken the pledge. Please for visit further information http://www.activecommunitiespledge.ca