It was practically a full house at the Sportsplex here on Sept. 30, as residents descended to discover who might be the next mayor of Wellington North.
Running against incumbent Mayor Mike Broomhead are Ross Chaulk (currently a Wellington North councillor), Janice Lewis and Ray Tout.
Ray Tout
A Mount Forest resident and businessman, Tout said, “Tonight is a night for people to decide which candidate will make our community a better place – for themselves, for their children and their grandchildren.”
He has served as chairman of the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival, president of the Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce, parade marshal for the Mount Forest Santa Claus parade, past president of the Mount Forest Lions Club and a former member of the Wellington North Economic Development Committee.
“I do this because community service and volunteering matter,” Tout said. “I believe Wellington North can be made a better place, through working together for change. This change can only be realized through new leadership.”
Tout considered himself as having a proven record of leadership, financial experience and of bringing people together.
“To grow, we need a plan, a direction and a vision for Wellington North that we can all share. We cannot afford four more years of the same kind of decision making that has resulted in an ever-increasing municipal debt,” he said.
“Instead we must establish our priorities and start living within our means.”
Tout said the mayor and council cannot decide what needs to be done, nor hide behind a consultant’s report.
He added since announcing his candidacy, he has attended many council meetings and is astounded with “how empty the council chamber is – in so many ways.”
He said it also means giving the municipal staff the confidence and support of council.
Tout said council’s expectations must be clearly communicated, just as staff should feel able to offer suggestions without the fear of reprisal.
Janice Lewis
Lewis advocated property tax refunds.
“Low taxes are already helping Canada attract jobs and investment needed to turn ideas into products and services.
She said property tax refunds would allow residents and commercial sector owners to reinvest in the Wellington North economy.
Lewis said a committee would be created to realign the budget to create a well balanced Wellington North community.
She sees enhanced business sectors in downtown Arthur, Kenilworth, and Mount Forest.
“Small and medium sized businesses are the engines of the Canadian economy and re–sponsible for the creation of most new jobs.”
She said her focus would be on marketing and business and retail development as well as community development and safety.
Lewis said she would work with industry to assess the is–sues to create more jobs in the area.
She also wants to see protection of agricultural lands and create a support network for farmers in Wellington North.
Also, advocating a freeze on municipal salaries, she said municipal leaders would have to follow in line.
Ross Chaulk
Candidate Ross Chaulk said, “While this current council achieved many things we should be proud of, there was much that we did not achieve, that we should have.”
“I have great respect for my fellow councillors, but we have disagreed on occasion.”
“To be frank, I put my name forward because questions I raised in council, were not answered to my satisfaction,”
“I believe change is re–quired.”
Chaulk sees himself as having a township wide perspective with ties to Arthur and an accounting office in Mount Forest. That perspective applies to views on farmers, seniors, young families, business owners.
He said working with residents on their finances, “has taught me first hand how they feel about taxes.”
Taxpayers want to be informed and Chaulk said, “They deserve to know where their tax dollars are being spent. The Township of Wellington North is a multimillion dollar operation, and it is time it was run like a business.”
He said, “My priorities include a business plan, debt repayment, fiscal responsibility, and openness in government.”
His plans for debt repayment would be taking any surplus at the end of the year to apply towards the debt.
Seniors also make up a significant portion of the population, and Chaulk said that each year as the population ages, even more people are living on a fixed income – and increasing property taxes creates an additional burden.
“Wellington North is more than the towns of Arthur and Mount Forest,” Chaulk said. “We seem to have forgotten that agriculture is a vital part of our community.”
He said Wellington North needs to reach out and open the lines of communication, “because if they succeed – we succeed.”
Mike Broomhead
Incumbent Mike Broomhead’s campaign is “Continuity counts. We need to move forward with experience.”
Broomhead said he has been on council for 21 consecutive years, the last seven as mayor of Wellington North.
He added that he enjoys every opportunity to be in–volved and volunteer in the township.
He said that in 2003, when he was elected as mayor, “We were facing many challenges including downloading, cutbacks, and lack of funding from the provincial and federal governments. It left a dark cloud hovering over our municipality.”
At that time, the community faced the loss of a local hospital, businesses were struggling and water quality and volumes were huge issues, he said.
He said that over the past seven years, great things happened in Wellington North.
“We stand stronger and better prepared for the future.”
Broomhead pointed to num–erous major projects within the community – as a result of lobbying for funds from upper levels of government.
He said that to date, the value of those projects exceeds $55-million – many of which were obtained through two-thirds funding with the federal and provincial governments.
Broomhead agreed it is necessary for the municipality to debt finance its share of the projects, “But we were able to handle this without putting unnecessary burdens on the taxpayer.”
“Our community is strong and vibrant.”
He said there is growth and development and, “We need to promote our vital agricultural industry through a focus on rural services.
“The next four years will be both exciting and challenging.”
