Why I ran for Town Council in 2022
Transparency
The decisions and rationale of our local government should be open and transparent. While privacy and confidentiality must be respected, they should not be used as a shield to hide behind. The run up in costs for the Library Square project and the deal terms behind The Armoury are just two examples where transparency is being questioned.
Our Local Environment & Green Spaces
Aurora has a very finite footprint. If we want to grow the Town’s population base, we either build up and increase density or we gobble-up existing green spaces. The real question for the people of Aurora is how much population growth do we want, and are we willing to sacrifice our green spaces to attain that growth? If you’re like me, it was our green spaces that gave us solace and helped keep us sane during the Covid lockdowns.
Business Development
What do we need to do to attract high employment value business to our community? Have we maximized our potential tax revenue from lands currently zoned commercial? Is growing our business tax base, on existing land already zoned commercial, a means to grow the Town’s overall revenue and perhaps offset new residential development? What else could we be doing to attract/expand/retain business? Why did the new Loblaw distribution facility locate in West Gwillimbury, just outside of Aurora?
Leadership & Vision
Great leaders are great listeners. They take in a diversity of voices, examine numerous points of view, listen to the opinions of experts & stakeholders then work to build consensus and make decisions based on the best available knowledge at the time. A leader is only as good as the team around them - no one has all the answers. I am a leader that will champion a diversity of opinions, build consensus and earn the trust and respect of colleagues.