Why are you running?
I’m running because so much of our population is underrepresented. A large portion of Chatham-Kent residents can barely afford groceries, rent or their mortgages, let-alone tickets to an OHL game. Our priorities have to shift quickly here, or things will only continue to get worse.
What are the two biggest issues for the next term of council?
In my opinion, our two biggest issues going forward are affordability and increasing transparency. One-in-four families is using foodbanks, and the rest are wondering where their tax dollars are going. Until we come together as a community and solve the root issues, nothing is going to change.
What do you hope to achieve if elected?
When elected, my goal is to make Chatham-Kent an affordable place to live again. We can’t keep relying on upper levels of government to bail us out, and we’re wasting time and resources waiting for help. We need to come up with solutions on our own, with what we have.
We expect those with extremely limited resources to just “make it work” every month – we should be leading by example.
What skills and experience do you bring?
I have experience in journalism and media, finance, and governance. But none of that compares to the lived experience I’ve gained over the past year. Struggling below the poverty line, fighting to access resources like employment programs, Ontario Works, and other social services taught me all I need to know about what’s wrong with the system we have in place currently.
Are you a fan of Donald Trump? Did not provide yes or no answer.
