Why are you running?
To continue to bring South Kent constituent voices to the council table regarding everyday issues that affect them. I would also like the continued opportunity to represent Chatham-Kent and work cohesively on bi-national and regional organizations such as the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), as Canadian vice-chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Shoreline Resilience and as co-chair of the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative(TRPRC) respectfully.
What are the key issues?
Large geographic area with a limited residential tax base who are already struggling to make ends meet with everyday rising costs and inflation.
Lack of alternate financial resources to effectively upgrade/improve the resilience of older infrastructure and/or to build/maintain new infrastructure for anticipated growth.
Lack of affordable housing options for young adults/families to rent or purchase and for older adults who wish to downsize.
Limited systemic harm reduction resources and few supportive housing options to effectively meet addiction and/or substance abuse challenges in our community.
Loss of farmland lending to world-wide sustainable food security issues.
Affordable and accessible community transit options.
What do you hope to achieve if elected?
I would like to see the development of more public private partnerships across our municipal departments as we streamline services to address rising costs while ensuring continued face-to-face equitable service access across Chatham-Kent. I would also like to encourage continued sustainable economic growth balanced with environmental best-practices and protection of our valuable farmland; expanded on-demand transit; improved affordable and supportive housing availability.
What skills and experience do you bring?
I have acquired an extensive network of resources regarding sustainable nature-based adaptive strategies/interventions that could be considered when making decisions regarding our ongoing infrastructure challenges.
I am approachable, respectful and collaborative. I am open to new ideas with consideration for all opinions and will consistently take a common sense approach.
