ward 6 town of milton

Milton Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Mike Cluett

Sunday November 7, 2010 starting at 1:30PM.  Please join us as we celebrate Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Victoria Park cenotaph (at Milton Town Hall) and honour our fallen soldiers, our veterans and current members of Canada’s military force.

Please support the Royal Canadian Legion (Milton Branch 136) and buy a poppy from one of the many volunteers and show everyone that you will not forget their sacrifice that helps continue to make Canada and other countries around the world … free.

You can also join the official ceremonies on Thursday November 11th at the Milton Evergreen Cemetery starting at 10:45AM to 11:15AM (190 Ontario Street South) and join in celebrating our freedom.

Lest we forget.

Halton Police set up online crime reporting

Mike Cluett

From todays Milton Canadian Champion

Cops set up online crime reporting

Halton Regional Police Service has made it more convenient for the public to now report certain types of crime online through their website at www.haltonpolice.ca.

HRPS is one of first police services in Canada to introduce online police reporting as a way to enhance its service to the public.

Now, rather than having to go to a Halton police station or call the non-emergency line at 905-878-5511, people can use the new HRPS online police reporting system to report lost property, theft of property valued at less than $5,000, theft from vehicle, and damage or vandalism to their home or vehicle.

The offence must have occurred within Halton, there must be no known suspects, and it must not be a crime in progress.

To report a crime in progress, the public is advised to call 9-1-1.

“People today lead incredibly busy lives, and this is one way we can help them get back to their day as quickly as possible after their vehicle has been broken into, or their property has been lost, stolen, or vandalized,” said Chief Gary Crowell, adding, “It also is a tremendous convenience for people who may live outside of Halton, but unfortunately were a victim of one of these types of crimes while within our jurisdiction.”

Since starting testing of the new system, the Service has received 112 police reports, with the vast majority being filed by Oakville and Burlington residents.

The three most commonly reported crimes using the new system are theft from auto, theft of property and property damage.

The system is secure, confidential and easy to use. People are required to have a valid email address, and should disable any pop-up blockers before filing their report online.

Complete instructions and an FAQ are available on the Service’s website at www.haltonpolice.ca.

Landslide Victory for Cluett

Mike Cluett

From the Milton Canadian Champion

Mike Cluett, 2010 candidate for Milton's Ward 6.

CLUETT, Mike 1216 (78.71%)

SOOMRO 329 (21.29%)

Mike Cluett has become the new councillor for Ward 6 following a landslide victory.

The father of two said he was motivated to get into public office to ensure a positive future for his offspring, and last night he got off on the right foot to do so.

Cluett said he was pleased with voter turnout in the new ward.

He said: “We tried to get as many people out as possible as the number of voters going out to the polls has been dropping the last couple of years.

“Considering this is a new ward I think we did well.”

He added that his first order of business in office would be to tackle the budget and to ensure councillors start “sharpening their pencils.”

His opponent, Maqsood Soomro, conceded defeat saying running for office had been a “wonderful experience.”

He said: “I think I did better than a lot of people expected, but there always has to be one winner and one loser.”

Today Is Election Day

Mike Cluett

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.

6 Days Remaining

Mike Cluett

Sore feet.  Sore legs.  Voice diminishing quickly.  Yep, its getting down to the last few days of a campaign.

I don’t know exactly how many kilometres my feet have walked in the last few weeks but I’m sure its close enough to a double marathon race.  Over these last few days I have met and talked with many of the voters in Ward 6 who have appreciated my attempt at bridging the gap of communication between town hall and the voters.

It hasnt been easy, but I’m working hard so I can work for you.

Lawn sign requests continue to come in on a regular basis and I will do my best to get them out as soon as possible.  A lot of attention has been drawn to the number of signs in our area recently and as I’ve said before … signs are good but votes are what makes the difference.

I’ll be heading to town hall shortly to get the list of the people who voted in the advance poll over the weekend.  Speaking with a few of the workers at those polls, turnout has been great.  That’s a good sign.

Not only a good sign for the chances of electing Mike Cluett to town council, but for overall turnout in general.  Last election in this area only 23.5% of people came out to vote.  I don’t know if it was people thinking “my vote doesn’t count” but the fact I wasn’t successful that time by only 92 votes shows that every vote DOES count.

There is only one more day available for voting and that’s Monday October 25th. 

I know as a parent of two children myself and whose wife also has a full time career, that things can get crazy.  Picking them up from school, getting dinner ready, homework, sports activities and runny noses takes up a lot of time.  I can only ask that if you haven’t voted yet, please take some time on the 25th to cast your ballot in Milton’s election.

Its been a common theme over the last few elections here in Milton that there’s a lot of change coming.  And there is.

From the intensification of Main Street, to the Derry Green Corporate Business Park, to the Milton Education Village and possible campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, to the Boyne Survey; there are a lot of changes coming to Milton.  You need to be kept up to date on those changes, how they affect you and how your council member can help get you involved in that process.  Its our town and we all want the best for our town.  It’s important that you’re involved as much as possible.

That’s why I want to be your councillor.  With the busy lives we lead on a daily basis, its hard to make it to a public meeting or council meeting where these issues are being discussed.  I want to be your elected representative to attend these meetings and speak out on your behalf.  I want you to be able to email me anytime with questions or concerns that I can bring forward to the table if you cant be there.

That’s the reason why we have a council.  To be your voice around the table when these decisions are made.

Over the next 6 days, I will be doing what I can to talk to as many of you until the 25th.  Please take a moment to view the videos I have on the main page that include the Milton Today TV Debate from Thanksgiving Sunday, to my interview with Kelly from Milton Today and my TV Cogeco statement where I outline why you should vote for me.

I’ve been working hard since the last election to make sure I kept the committments I made to you back then, and I think I’ve done that.  Ive attended council meetings, budget meetings, public meetings and reported the results on my website.  Ive been critical of council when it was deserved and applauded them when it was due.

Every vote counts and I hope to earn your support and vote on election day.  Thank you for making this campaign fun, challenging and inspiring as well.  Until then, I’ll see you at the doors.

12 Days Remain

Mike Cluett

Getting down to the nitty gritty with Milton Election 2010.  There are only 12 days remaining in the campaign and things are beginning to heat up.  While out door knocking last night, I found that a there are a lot of people who are starting to look at the candidates, their platforms and what they can do for everyone in the Town of Milton.

One of the main questions I am asked at the doors is “What sets you apart from your competition?”

In one word, commitment!  Back in 2006 I ran for local council (for what was then called ward one…it now encompasses the new wards 1, 6, 7 & 8 ) I continued with the commitments I made then.  I had promised to keep people informed of what was going on at town hall by using my website and blog as a source of information.  I attended council, committee and public meetings throughout those 4 years and reported on the changes that were happening in Milton. 

I spoke out against council when they made decisions that didn’t make sense and praised the decisions that did.

My commitment to serving Miltonians didn’t come at the last second.  I launched my campaign back in January of this year and since April, I have been knocking on doors, leaving information on me, what I stand for and what I will do if elected.

Many of you that I have spoken with recently remember me from the first time I came around this year and from the previous times over the last few years and know that my commitment to serve Milton at town council is strongly routed in helping improve our community and make it a better place to live.

It’s my hope that after October 25th, I can continue to serve Ward 6 and Miltonians alike at the council table and to help steer it through the changes we will have to face and the decisions that we will have to make.

I want to ensure that the voters in Ward 6 have a say…to be a part of that process and for me to be your voice at the council table.  I hope that I can earn your support and your vote on Election Day and be able to work for and with you for the next 4 years.

Lots of doors remain to be knocked on and even though it’s tiring physically, the support you show for me is energizing.  I’ll see you at the doors.