I grew up on the family farm, graduated from LKCS in Dresden, and completed post-secondary studies at the University of Toronto (BA), Canadian Nazarene College (BRS), and McMaster Divinity College (MTS).
An ordained minister, I served as a pastor in Hamilton for nearly 15 years, and realized the dream of moving back to Chatham-Kent in 2012. My wife Kimberly and I are business owners (Music on the Move at Jurassic Fantastic, a community music and party place in the Downtown Chatham Centre), musicians and worship leaders.
My desire is to apply my experience in both the business and non-profit sectors to developing and promoting Chatham-Kent and its unique constituent communities as healthy and attractive places for people to live, work and find fulfillment.
Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff or services?
Yes, although at least a tax freeze should be possible without significant reductions of staff or services.
Would you support an OPP costing study?
No. The complex costing study process, from initial preparation of a Council Resolution, through a needs study with public consultation, to a final proposal to Council with options for discussion and decision, would be time-consuming, expensive and unnecessarily distracting and divisive.
Would you support examining a volunteer-only fire service if the provincial arbitration system isn’t overhauled?
No.
Do you believe we should continue our ongoing efforts to attract economic investment from China?
Yes. International investment in Chatham-Kent should be investigated and encouraged.
Would you support contracting municipal services to the private sector if those services can be delivered more efficiently?
Yes.
Would you support investigating amalgamation of fire/ambulance/police services to reduce costs?
No. Perhaps there could be cost reductions with closer co-ordination among these services, but I don’t believe amalgamation would be practical.
Would you support a municipal tree-cutting bylaw if it contained incentives for woodlot owners to retain/increase tree cover?
Yes. I believe a bylaw will be necessary, along with a sustained effort to promote and apply the Natural Heritage Implementation Strategy, which itself contains support and incentives for real estate owners to retain and manage their woodlots.
Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner such as London and Windsor have added?
No.
Would you consider developing a usage benchmark for municipal offices, arena and libraries and closing those that don’t meet the standards?
No. The community value of assets should be considered in context, not against a universal benchmark.
Do you support development of a community-wide multipurpose recreation centre?
No. I believe that individual communities throughout the municipality would be better served by the development of local facilities (in partnership with business and non-profit sectors) specific to the needs and characteristics of those communities.
Do you support an adopt-a-park program in which service or volunteer groups assume some maintenance (grass cutting) of some municipal facilities?
Yes.
Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of municipal councilors?
Yes.
Glad to see your support for a tree bylaw. You will be getting my vote