Mayoral hopefuls discuss the municipality

A standing-room only crowd of 150 people filled St. Mary’s Hall in Blenheim to listen to mayoral and Ward 2 candidates Sept. 30.

Taxes, the size, scope and cost of government, and economic development dominated the three-hour session in which candidates answered questions submitted by the public.

Here’s an overview of some of the mayoral candidates’ comments. Candidate Reno Lachapelle was not in attendance.

Why they’re running:

Steve Brent said Chatham-Kent needs a mayor who isn’t afraid to make “tough decisions” and said his election means the “2006-2014 spending spree” will end.

Jeff Bultje said his election would get government “back to basics” providing service. He said the municipality is spending $17 million per year to service its debt – “an arena’s worth” of expense.

Marjorie Crew said she could emphasize a collaborative approach. “I don’t have all the answers” but by working together, solutions can be found.

Randy Hope said he needs another four years to complete the changes he started in 2006 and bring the municipality to prosperity as part of his 12-year plan.

Ian McClarty said he is the only rural candidate and stressed what he called “international business experience.” Council has lost control and administration is “the tail wagging the dog,” he added.

John Willatt said although he has called Chatham-Kent his home for 25 years as an immigrant, he brings a much-needed different perspective to council.

Possible changes in municipal focus:

Bultje said council spends far too much in outside consulting when staff should have knowledge to do the work.

Crew said she wants a new and efficient way to do business. “We need to raise our profile and show we’re ripe for business.”

Hope said he wants to foster more debate and change council’s priorities.

McClarty said there needs to be greater accountability and transparency between staff and council so people can get the information they seek.

Willatt said C-K needs to “quit spending more than we earn. We have to cut it back.” He also said he would seek to move council meetings to Thursday night to give council more opportunity to review material and contact staff.

Brent said the municipality is too focused on industry as an economic driver and that there can be advantages to including arts and culture in the mix.

On leadership:

Crew said she wants a system of community organizations with direct input to council so there is a greater sense that all of Chatham-Kent is behind government.

Hope said he is proud of the fact that there has been a 22% reduction in municipal debt ($168 million to $128 million) with a further reduction in his plans.

McLarty said there is a credibility issue with local government, which he would address. “Nobody can tell me why we say have $100 million in reserves but we can’t a fix our roads and bridges.”

Willatt said, “When you look at Windsor with no tax increase in five years and London with no increase in three of the last four, there is no reason we can’t to the same or better.”

Brent said as mayor he would make changes in how C-K invests its municipal resources. He said there is a need to “cut red tape” so the community can make progress instead of being tied to procedures.

Bultje said under his leadership, reducing municipal debt would become the priority of council and staff in order to allow the municipality to have flexibility to deal with issues as they arise.

On zero budget increases and staffing

Hope said the community can’t sustain either a zero tax increase or tax cuts without service cuts. “We’re not wasteful but we have to deal with inflation like everyone else.”

McLarty said holding staff more accountable for the way money is spent would be the first step toward halting tax increases.

Willatt said C-K can’t implement wage freezes with employees due to contracts but is confident enough savings can be found to have allow it to “do better than zero.”

Brent said a combination of new assessment and a more business-friendly approach in local government can stop budget increases.

Bultje said claims that council can’t bring a zero increase are “bull” and that if a private firm acted the way C-K does it in dealing with development, it would be “out of business.”

Crew said budget increases are a fact of life due to inflation, but that doesn’t mean the municipality can’t continue to find ways to improve efficiency.

Government’s role in in economic growth

McLarty said the municipality should look after critical infrastructure and make sure local businesses are taken care of instead of just chasing foreign investment.

Willatt said as mayor he would justify any foreign trips. He said the new Canadian-European Union trade agreement isn’t being given enough attention.

Brent said Chatham-Kent must adopt a “world-class” mindset to take advantage of the benefits the community has to offer.

Bultje said he called on Chatham-Kent to remove land development charges as other communities have done and likened doing business with Chatham-Kent bureaucracy to “going to war.”

Crew said the municipality must raise its profile to attract investment but is in an excellent position to brand itself on the strength of its agricultural and geographical status.

Hope said the municipality is “open for business” and said has a one-stop shopping approach to allow for investment. He touted agriculture as an area with great potential.