Mayoral candidates – Week 2

Top 3 Key Issues?

I think there are many key issues and the top three vary, depending on whom you’re talking to. However, one of the most talked about issues is:

The highway relocation

Although this issue is 10-15 years away and some say 40-50 years, it is a hot issue because the underlying concern is money. The economic impact of this ISSUE could be huge. However, I strongly suggest you checkout my website. My proposal can save $100,000, if not millions. www.kevinbaldwinformayor.ca

Activities for families, youth and seniors

While a lot of attention is being focused on the highway relocation, many families and individuals in Strathmore are experiencing loss of jobs, financial cutbacks in their work place, huge losses in their home equity and the list goes on. Again, money or lack of it is affecting the citizens of Strathmore. Affordable, diversified, drop-in type of activities can give families and individuals an opportunity to socialize and build strong family and community relationships.

An accountable and transparent town council

What are the issues? Are the issues ones that town council has created or are they real issues the town is experiencing? Would it be Irrigation, or irresponsible spending or the lack of by-laws/ law enforcement, such as speeding on Centre Street? Or is money the cause of these issues?

I propose the three key issues are many and multiple issues that have their roots in MONEY. As Mayor, along with the council members you choose, we will work diligently and hard for you, to build a town in which its’ citizens are proud to say, “I’m from Strathmore.”

“Strathmore putting its citizens first.”

 

 

Michael Ell 

To date, we have committed our town to growth without due consideration to its inherent challenges. Zoning rules have been designed using one standard and later modified to meet specific project parameters for developers. These decisions have not been in the complete interest of Strathmore’s citizens. As we grow, we must create a sustainable master plan that includes town infrastructure, our parks and wetlands and the costs of how our decisions impact Strathmore in the future.

Today, we face a similar situation with regard to our town finances. Strathmore has ‘grown’ into increased debt accumulation resulting in a smaller town reserve fund. While we can pay our current debt obligations, any spike in interest rates could force property tax and town service fees to increase significantly. We must carefully manage our finances and work to avoid across the board tax increases/service reductions. Our citizens cannot afford more taxes; we need a financial diet plan.

Finally, as one of the largest employers in town, Strathmore requires full transparency of budgets and councilor’s expenses. I regularly attend council meetings which gives me a brief insight as to how our money is being spent and I am not pleased. We should not have councilor’s approving their own increases. I would ask for input from the community on raises and per diems. Strathmore also requires an independent auditor free from any town interest to ensure fair process. This information should be reported in the paper along with the town’s financial statements.

As mayor, I will be accountable, open and transparent. Together we can make Strathmore the town we want it to be.

Visit my website at michaelellformayor.com

 

GlennFreeland

When contacted by the Strathmore Times, Mr. Freeland declined the opportunity to leave a comment.

 

 

Steve Grajczyk 

My three keys issues for the upcoming election are:

1) The need to lobby the provincial government for more adequate reasonable cost for senior housing and home care support/assisted living. This would promote Strathmore as a desirable retirement community.

2) To ensure the continuous ample amount of parks, green space, wetlands and pathways and also to enhance the lifestyle of our present citizens, to attract new residents and to work on our old water reservoir as a recreational site.

3) Lastly, but not least to encourage investors, developers, factories and manufacturing to come to our town (so they can off set the tax base to our residential taxes)

We must do all of the above if we want to continue to be a growing, progressive, vibrant community

And remember as your mayor I would have the time, desire and knowledge because I have watched Strathmore grow and been involved in this beautiful community for the past 33 years!!!

 

George Lattery

I have fought every step of the way for the Town of Strathmore and will continue to do so. Here are some of my key platform issues;

• Work with council and people to begin establishing a museum, 

• There are many parts of infrastructure that needs rebuilding, roads to be repaved, more work to be done with recreations and parks.

• Remain a strong advocate for our hospital.

• Work with the downtown businesses on a beautification and revitalization program.

• Work with all people on Identity for Strathmore, one that is unique to our town alone.

• Work with developers and builders to keep and make Strathmore diverse community as well as economically affordable for people of all ages.

• Work to attract new businesses to Strathmore.

• Remain a strong voice for the people concerning the Highway bypass.

 

Brad Walls

What are the three key issues for the upcoming election? 

The first thing that is on everyone’s mind when faced with electing a new mayor and council is ensuring that they’re electing the people who will bring Strathmore forward in the coming years – focus on the business of running a town, keeping the hard-working families that live here in the forefront of their mind and who has the knowledge, wisdom and leadership to make the hard decisions that need to be made.

Running a town the size of Strathmore is a business – money exchanges hands and there’s a budget to build and to be kept in line. The mayor and council, needs to have the knowledge of what is needed, the responsibility and input from the community of what is wanted and the wisdom to balance the two and make the decisions on priorities that balance the want and need.

Family – it’s the basis of our town, without families coming into our community, there’s no sense in worrying about businesses. The residents of the community also need businesses to continue to come to town to increase the employment opportunities for everyone. Without jobs, there are no residents, without residents, there is no business – this balancing act between population and business, increase and maintenance, is the key to the upcoming election.

There is a higher level of discipline needed for the town to run on budget and as a professional business while maintaining the quality of life in town and building on the family-sense in the community. I want to hear from the community – from the people who support this town and make it what it is – to know what they need and want, as well as what they don’t, in the town they live in, support, call home and raise their families in.