I’m the father of Ian, aged six and Zoë, aged four. My wife of more than eight years, Trish, is a school photographer and I’ve been the municipal reporter for seven years for Blackburn Radio.
In that time, I’ve seen a deeply divided council avoid responsibility, defer important decisions and often vote to appease the people sitting in the chambers.
Council ignores its own directions, and reacts instead of plans. I’m running because I’ve seen how the sausage is made, and we can do better.
Without a direction and teamwork-oriented council with focus, Chatham-Kent will continue to hemorrhage jobs and people, leaving the residents of this great municipality to shoulder an ever-growing burden.
Chatham-Kent council needs to focus on working together.
For the past four years, councillors have been pulling in a dozen different directions. With that lack of direction, only crisis has been able to spur action.
Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff or services?
Yes.
Would you support an OPP costing study?
Yes. I am supportive of our police service, but getting an estimate does no harm. I don’t know if the OPP is a good fit, but refusing to find out does a disservice to the residents of the municipality.
Would you support examining a volunteer-only fire service if the provincial arbitration system isn’t overhauled?
Yes. Our volunteers are highly trained, skillful and professional, our current volunteers need to be better utilized as it is.
Do you believe we should continue our ongoing efforts to attract economic investment from China?
No. I believe in attracting economic development and I believe that every market needs to be tapped. I also believe in measureable results. In nearly a decade of work, there has yet to be a significant announcement.
Would you support contracting municipal services to the private sector if those services can be delivered more efficiently?
Yes. If the service is of the same quality, I am in favour of contracting it out.
Would you support investigating amalgamation of fire/ambulance/police services to reduce costs?
Yes. Fire and police already share dispatching services. I see no reason not to investigate it further.
Would you support a municipal tree-cutting bylaw if it contained incentives for woodlot owners to retain/increase tree cover?
The tree cover issue was bobbled from the word go. I believe a compromise could have been found had it not been for the ham-handed way council dealt with the issue. Farmers need to be able to maintain their hedgerows, windbreaks and forests and should be rewarded for maintaining/growing woodlots. I can support the idea in principal, but not without proper input.
Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner such as London and Windsor have added?
Yes. I’m also calling for a lobbyist registry. The more transparency the better. I can’t think of a better way to keep an eye on how our money is spent.
Would you consider developing a usage benchmark for municipal offices, arena and libraries and closing those that don’t meet the standards?
No. Each service needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. A benchmark would measure quantity not quality.
Do you support development of a community-wide multipurpose recreation centre? Yes. We missed the mark with the Bradley Centre. We needed a twin pad arena with soccer fields, fitness opportunities and conference space. What we got was a money-losing venture that competes with area businesses.
Do you support an adopt-a-park program in which service or volunteer groups assume some maintenance (grass cutting) of some municipal facilities?
Yes. As long as there is some way to maintain the quality of the park.
Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of municipal councilors?
Yes. I’m not sure it’s the right answer, but I won’t dismiss it out of hand.
Platform
Chatham-Kent council needs to focus on working together. For the past four years, councillors have been pulling in a dozen different directions. With that lack of direction, only crisis has been able to spur action.
I pledge to work with my fellow councillors to hold the line on taxes, starting with council perks like meals and hand delivered paper agendas.
I promise to ask questions of experts, seek out my own answers and hold administration accountable to their reports. To often reports are accepted without the proper consideration or research on the part of councillors.
I want to re-examine the municipality’s succession plan and promote hiring from within.
The OPP needs to be examined as an option, if for no other reason than to put the issue to rest.
I pledge to again look at adjusting the size of council.
I’m calling on the creation of a lobbyist registry to try to expose and limit the number of backroom deals.
I pledge to force more work to be done “in house” instead of relying on outside consultants. When those strategies and plans are developed, I pledge to put them into practice.
I pledge to refocus our economic development department. Tourism, agriculture, commercial and small industry are the way of the future.
I’m committed to providing a healthy, sustainable community by strategically investing in recreational and cultural opportunities in Chatham-Kent.
Above all else, I vow to work to draw people here and hang onto the people that are here. Chatham-Kent is our home, and we need to promote it as a great place to live, work and play. Growing the population will solve many of the economic and quality of life issues we face. We’ll get there by making good decisions, investing in our people and businesses and working as a team.
