Why are you running?
I’m running because Chatham-Kent has enormous potential, but we need to become far more deliberate about growth. I want municipal government focused on the fundamentals: infrastructure, economic development, housing, public safety and reliable services.
We should be building the conditions that allow families and businesses to succeed here rather than continually reacting to problems after they arrive.
What are the two biggest issues for the next term of council?
Economic growth and infrastructure. Chatham-Kent needs more serviced industrial land, stronger water and wastewater capacity, better transportation links and a serious strategy for attracting employers.
At the same time, aging infrastructure in communities such as Wallaceburg and Tilbury cannot simply be deferred indefinitely. Growth and infrastructure have to be planned together.
What do you hope to achieve if elected?
I want Chatham-Kent to become one of Ontario’s most competitive municipalities for investment. That means preparing employment land, pursuing new industry, expanding our tax base and finding new municipal revenue opportunities so homeowners are not continually asked to carry the burden. I also want every community in Chatham-Kent to see tangible investment and opportunity.
What skills and experience do you bring?
I bring more than a decade of operations management and logistics experience, along with education in supply-chain management and accounting. My work has centred on operations, budgeting, problem-solving and getting people and resources where they need to be. I approach municipal issues the same way: understand the system, identify the bottleneck and build a practical solution.
Are you a fan of Donald Trump? No.
