Its been over 10 months since I began my campaign to become the local councillor for ward 6. On January 11, 2010 I visited town hall and filed my nomination papers and started what was to become a tiring, yet satisfying campaign.
Over these past 10 months I have met many of you, a couple of times over, and heard what issues you find to be important. In this time I spoke about 3 main things…responsible financial management, neighbourhood safety and accountability.
The first item of business for the new council will be to review the 2011 budget which has a projected 6.91% increase to the mill rate. You have told me you want value for your dollar and you want your taxes spent wisely and this rate increase is simply too much. Council needs to review line by line each item in the budget so we can see whats working, what isn’t working and where we can find savings. I have made the promise I wont support the 2011 budget if the increase is over the rate of inflation. I hope my council colleagues will work hard over that budget process to see if we can find the savings and give you value for your tax dollar.
We’ve talked about neighbourhood safety at length as well. Im glad my opponent has been reading my blog since he started his campaign mid September and now understands this is an important issue. Over the months and in fact the last few years, I have been talking about the importance of neighbourhood safety on our roads. The town of Milton wants to become a pedestrian friendly town, but we need to look at options like traffic calming devices and other ways to slow down vehicles in the residential area so that all pedestrians are safer. We’ve discussed the idea of a signalled crosswalk near Kennedy Circle and Thompson Road as there are people who would like to take advantage of the great splash pad and soccer fields on one side or others to go to Shoppers Drug Mart or Metro or the Dollar Blitz to shop without packing the kids in the car to travel less than 500 metres. Over the next four years I want to bring these ideas forward and I need your input and help to get it done.
Last but not least, we talked extensively about accountability. About being there when you call or email and giving you a quick response. Ive promised, as I have done over the last 4 years, to update you on whats going on in Milton, at Town Hall, and how it affects you using this website/blog and other forms of social media like Facebook & Twitter. During some important council meetings you can find me sending updates through Twitter on what was going on, and when the decisions are made. Its something I will do my best to continue as councillor, even though I’ll be sitting at the table, Ill make sure you can follow along. Either by Twitter or what we hope to do is stream the meetings online so you can see whos working for you and asking the questions that need to be asked.
So now the brochures have been delivered and the doors have been knocked on and I’ve done my best to meet as many of you as I could over the last 10 months. I leave it in your hands to make the decision on who you feel is the best candidate to represent all Miltonians at the council table. If you havent made that crucial decision yet, I ask that you review my website and that of my opponents and see who has the plan for a better Milton.
You can vote today starting now at 10AM to 8 PM tonight. If you live north of Clark Blvd in Ward 6 you will be voting at Guardian Angels on Bennett Blvd – and if you live south of Clark Blvd you will be voting at Hawthorne Village School also on Bennett Blvd.
If you have any last minute questions, call my cell (647) 888-9032!
Thank you everyone for making this a fun campaign. Ive enjoyed meeting everyone and discussing the issues and while some of us disagreed we still came to the conclusion that the dialogue needs to continue and we need to work together to make Milton a better place. I am humbled by the support I’ve received and the pledges of support and the volunteers who have worked endlessly to help me get the message out and for that Im eternally grateful.
I’ll update the blog once the polls close and the results come in. Afterwards I will be at Ned Devines celebrating with other candidates, supporters, friends and family so feel free to drop by tonight (I’ll be there roughly after 9ish) and say HI!
Until then….I’ll see you at the polls.
