This past weekend I spoke at the FairChance 2010 workshop for prospective municipal candidates in Ottawa.

Sandra Blaikie, formerly of A Channel News, is the instigator behind the initiative. Essentially, it’s a committee of engaged Ottawa business owners, philanthropists, and academics looking to provide educational opportunities to people considering running for council, but need more information.

My bias in the upcoming municipal election in Ottawa is towards change, collaboration, and conversation. As I wrote in my first Spacing Ottawa City Vote 2010 column, I think our civic leaders have kept us in a status quo rut that self perpetuates each time an ineffective incumbent is elected.

I promised at the session to answer any technical political questions the group had–and I’d like to expand that offer to my blog readers as well. Also on the panel were mayoral campaign manager David Small, former Liberal MP (and city councilor) Marlene Catteral, and Walter Robinson (my partner in radio each Wednesday AM on Live 88.5 FM); I’ll be asking for their input on some of the questions and seeking out other strategists and tacticians in Canadian politics to weigh in with their thoughts.

I’m looking for questions about:

• political communications
• campaign strategy as it relates to media
• media skills
• other “process” questions related to communications

Please send over your queries via the comment section below or by emailing me, ian [at] mediastyle.ca, and over the next few months I’ll take some time here and at Spacing Ottawa to answer your questions.