Why are you running?
I want to see open, honest and clear communication and messaging. I have seen and been to a lot of meetings with lots of talk in my years being involved in most departments of the municipality. Well…words are, just that, words and mean nothing without ACTION.
What are the key issues?
Infrastructure costs are ever increasing and people are stretched too far. Decisions must be well thought out with nothing left out of the equation.
Another issue is that of closing our only downtown park for an entire season of festivals. We just came off years of COVID and the Third Street Bridge being closed. Find a way to complete the work in stages. Our businesses cannot afford another closure of any sort.
What do you hope to achieve if elected?
I would like to see a council that is working together to achieve mutually beneficial success and prosperity for all. Let’s bridge the urban/rural divide.
I have been a long-time advocate of the building of an access to the 401 at Queen Street. It is long overdue and should be discussed at a provincial level for funding. It is an item that I, if elected, would push to have happen. It is the one thing that will make Chatham’s downtown flourish and prosper.
What skills and experience do you bring?
I have all the skills and experience from having managed shopping centres in London, Toronto and both North Maple Mall and Downtown Chatham Centre for approximately 25 years. I also successfully managed the Heart and Stroke offices in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex. I have chaired many committees and believe there is always a way to find compromise and solutions to all problems…no matter how large.
Being elected to three terms as a trustee of the former Kent County Board of Education gives me the experience, skill and understanding of working in a county system long before the amalgamation of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
