I was born and raised in Chatham Kent and have been married to my wife Dianne for 27 years and have two children, Taylor and Jake. I have worked with the family business for over 30 years. I’m not afraid to tackle any problems head on. I’m a proven problem solver and team leader using hard work and common sense.
I’m running for council because I feel I can be the voice of the people and I can also listen to what the people want and will fight for them. I also am tired of the crazy spending and feel that I will stand up to administration and fight for what is right. If elected I promise to always be true to myself and the people of Chatham Kent and always have our best interest at heart.
“Vote for your local Hooker!”
- Do you support increasing funding for infrastructure given the fact several culverts and bridges – including the Third Street Bridge – have had emergency issues and closures recently?
Yes!! If we can find the money from some other areas then I am completely behind increasing spending on infrastructure because of safety concerns for the public of our bridges, roadways and culverts.
- Would you support a tax freeze or rollback if it meant reduced staff and/or services?
Yes!! I support a tax freeze. But there are several ways of saving money other than cutting services and jobs! Municipality needs to utilize their employees instead of outsourcing so much work such as engineer consulting fees and maintenance program.
- Would you support shifting some services to the private sector if those services could be done more efficiently that way?
Yes!! I do support bringing in private sectors if it will save the tax payers money and maybe get out taxes frozen or even lowered!
- Do you believe we need a municipal ombudsman or ethics commissioner?
No!! I do not believe we need to hire an ombudsman or an ethics commissioner. We should be able to work it out within the administration and council. All this will do is raise our taxes when we have to hire an ombudsman or an ethics commissioner.
- Do you support investigating a reduction in the number of council members?
Yes!! I do support the deduction number of council members. I feel there should only be 3 for ward 6 especially after the amalgamation.
- Should the municipality try to land an Ontario Cannabis Store as soon as possible?
Yes!! I do agree with Chatham Kent trying to land an Ontario cannabis store as soon as possible as long as it’s for medical use only and the profits stay in the Municipality of Chatham Kent. Otherwise medical patients can go online and order medical cannabis through AgMedica Bio Science factory that is already located in Chatham.
- Should council be more proactive in terms of working with landowners with contaminated wells?
Yes!! I feel council should be a lot more proactive working with all people with contaminated and good wells this is a huge problem in Chatham and Dover Township. We need to stop hiding from this problem and address it.
- Some critics say the municipal building department is an impediment to development in C-K. Do you agree?
No!! I personally have never had any problems with the building department.
- Do you believe Chatham needs a new twin-pad arena?
Yes!! I do believe Chatham does need a twin pad arena as long as it is economically affordable and if we can get some assistance from the Federal and Provincial Government. I think it would be a huge assist to Chatham Kent.
- Should the municipality cut back on its expenditures for overseas economic development efforts?
Yes!! The Municipality should cut back on its expenditures because there is no evidence to suggest that all the efforts that the Municipality put forward there and the money that was used in travel and expenditures while overseas has given us any return on the investment. We haven’t seen any influx in fresh businesses or money that has resulted from overseas.
- Should municipal councillors ever be forced to go the Freedom of Information route when seeking municipal information?
No!! You shouldn’t be forced to use the freedom of information act when searching for answers regarding Municipality actions. As a councillor you should have access to this information in the same way a board member of a large corporation (like Municipality) do to effectively govern the Municipality across all wards. Councillors should have insight as to what’s going on within the Municipality without having to force someone’s hand.
- Should members of the public have more access to municipal information without having to resort to an FOI?
Yes!! I believe the public should have more access to Municipal information because in today’s world of transparency the knowledge of the people you serve having greater access to the decisions you are making on their behave will bring about more sound actions and accountability within council, minimizing the distance between the public and government officials.
