1) Why are you running?
I am running again for the position of Mayor based on three principal factors. One is to bring leadership and common sense back to the seat of mayor of West Grey. Two is get the council of West Grey back on track, doing what it is legislated to do, instead of slowly moving around without direction. Three is setting a budget that is sound and responsible to the taxpayers. After witnessing this term of council go rudderless without any leadership from the Mayor’s seat or otherwise, I had no option but to put my name forward, using my vast experience as a team builder and governance leader to get West Grey Council working as a team, getting municipal affairs in order and focusing on steering the ship to get things done for the taxpayers of West Grey.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
There are two main things we can do to help ease the cost of living for residents; one being among the primary reasons I am running – getting property taxes down to a rate that is acceptable and affordable for the ratepayers. Secondly would be approaching decision making in a cost effective manner. For example, I will work to get a budget passed by the end of December and get competitive bidding on projects. The last bridge project was tendered in July with every contractor already booked for the year council was left wondering why it was more than 30% over budget and why only one bid. Not a good business decision, and an example of something I will work to fix.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
A priority will be to identify the barriers that our present businesses have which may hinder their growth and expansion. Helping and securing what we have already in West Grey should be more important than chasing a dream of drawing certain business here that is far fetched or unlikely. If what we have is successful, then expansion will happen organically. Success breeds success and I have full confidence in our entrepreneurs.
4) Do you think a municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
Yes we should. However, I believe the municipality should not be on the front lines trying to entice doctors and health care professionals to come to our communities. Open access to healthcare is a Canadian right delivered by the federal government in partnership with provinces. Municipal governments must keep emphatically reminding them that it is their responsibility to use income driven tax revenue to staff their institutions in a manner that is promised to the citizens of this great country. Of course, municipalities can and should support efforts to demonstrate clearly that we are a great place for physicians to live and work.
5) What is your vision for the future of police services in West Grey?
As a resident of West Grey I believe in community policing, and to do that you require a community based police force versus a provincial one. I fully support our West Grey Police Service and will work with them ongoingly to ensure that challenges or issues are addressed, and that they can continue to serve our residents and keep them safe for years to come.
6) What issue do you believe is a top priority for West Grey to tackle during the next term?
There are several issues that will need to be tackled during the next term. Notably, we need to go back to doing the job of what the property taxes are meant to do. Focusing on Fire, Police, Library, Landfill, Road infrastructure, Recreation, Water and Sewer works, and reminding our upper tier governments of their responsibilities to the health and wealth of our community. By doing this the community as a whole succeeds and that is the number one priority! I will add that another priority I am focused on is a return to leadership from the Mayor’s seat, which goes hand in hand with wisely spending property tax dollars and budgeting responsibly. We owe it to our taxpayers!