Mayoral candidates Mike Broomhead (incumbent), Ross Chaulk, Janice Lewis, and Ray Tout recently had the chance to respond directly to issues important to residents of Wellington North.
At a meeting in Mount Forest, candidates were offered 30 seconds to respond to each question.
Why should we vote for you as mayor, as opposed to the other candidates?
Mike Broomhead first thanked for the chance to respond.
“I think the big thing is that we’re going through where so much is going to change and we have to adjust to a lot of things. Experience certainly does count.”
Broomhead believes that the experience he has and the long time involved in municipal politics, he understands the community and plays a big role in it.
“I take my job very seriously. I’m extremely accessible, and always have been.”
Ross Chaulk said, “Why should you vote for me? I’m the best candidate for the job. I have a plan and I have priorites.”
He said those priorities include debt repayment and fiscal responsibility.
Janice Lewis said she has a great passion for the people and the commodities within Wellington North.
“I’d like to work with all service bodies to fix all issues. No issue is too small or too large. People come first; not loan payments, not buildings.”
Ray Tout asked, “Why am I the person for the job? I think that most people in Wellington North have proven that we can work together. I’m a strong advocate of promoting our community and promoting industry to our community with the help of a lot of good people.”
Tout said “I feel I have the leadership and the strength of having people behind me.”
If you became mayor, how would you propose to pay off some of the municipal debt without increasing taxes or reducing services?
Tout explained that to pay down the debt “We must undertake a review of our operating expenditures and clearly establish our capital spending priorities.”
Essential services, would be maintained, “but tough decisions must be made.”
Lewis believes in an upward, onward approach.
“We should really encourage building instead of discouraging it. We need as many taxpayers as we can afford, without changing the concept of small community.”
Lewis contended the population is stagnant.
“Our economic development has not been working,” she said. “We need creative people who can think outside the box.”
Chaulk said “The current tax rate right now has the debt repayment built right in and factored in. But I hate having debt.”
Chaulk would like to see any municipal surplus applied to the debt.
“We will knock the debt down much quicker.”
Broomhead contended that the current debentures are actually $10.8-million.
He noted there is still ongoing fundraising efforts for some of the projects and there is a payment of over $700,000 to come from the municipality of Southgate.
He also cited other revenue that comes in each year.
Have you any ideas how to make the amalgamated Wellington North feel like one community – instead of four former communities?
Broomhead said council has worked together in a number of ways.
He said there are a lot of times when he has gone door to door. “I’ve heard people in Mount Forest ask why Arthur gets everything and everything goes to Arthur. But in Arthur, people say everything goes to Mount Forest.”
He said it is a matter of perception. The reality is, “As needs arise, we are addressing those needs – and I think we’ve done a tremendous job, to be honest.”
Chaulk agreed, “It’s mainly a perception problem.”
He cited joint fire department meetings as one of the ways to unite the community.
“We realize that perception is still out there. But it’s just a perception, and it’s something we are working on.”
Lewis instead focussed on an economic level.
“Arthur is the opening doorway to our economic success. Business will travel up Highway 6 and Arthur is the front door.”
She said once Highway 6 is prosperous, it will overflow to the other parts.
Tout believed the best way to promote the area is clear communication. He believed in establishing better lines of communication and clear goals involving the public to set to set those goals so they understand why the money is being spent in one area versus another.
“As mayor, it is my job to represent all of Wellington North.”
