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Incumbents and challengers at all-candidates meeting

(L-R) Gary Brown, Cindy Cartwright, Taun Frosst, Victoria Serda, Mike Smith, Luke Charbonneau, Doug Freiburger, Diane Huber and Thead Seaman

The first all-candidates meeting for Saugeen Shores Election 2010 was held Thursday night at the Port Elgin Plex.

The room was filled to capacity as voters came out to hear what their local candidates had to say about several issues from crosswalk and Trail Trail safety to wind turbines.

Each candidate for Mayor, Mike Smith and Victoria, had four minutes for opening remarks and to introduce themselves to the audience, Deputy Mayor candidates, Doug Freiburger and Luke Charbonneau had three minutes and each of the councilor candidates had two minutes.

Incumbent Mayor Mike Smith went over the projects that had been completed in the past four-year term.  "Most of our projects, such as the North Shore Sewer expansion, the Gore Drain and coastal bike path from Southampton to Port Elgin were big tickets items because of the stimulus funding that was received from the Provincial and Federal governments.  I suspect however, that there will be no further big dollars over the next term ."

Challenger, Victoria Serda, believes that municipal government should operate the same as a business or household when it comes to income and expenditures and should be responsible to those who pay the bills, the taxpayers.  Serda, who has founded the Sustainability and Resource Centre, also believes that "... local government officials need to be accountable to the residents in an open and transparent way."

Councilor Luke Charbonneau who has thrown his hat into the ring for the Deputy Mayor's seat feels that it is time for "change" and that with his being one of the younger candidates, he has ideas for the future of the community.  "I want to bring forward new ideas from a younger generation.  Charbonneau is a business owner with a young family and has been involved with several committees, including the Municipal Heritage Committee, Business Improvement Committee.  He said that he would like to see a Waterfront Committee struck to look at waterfront improvements from Southampton to MacGregor Park.

Doug Freiburger, incumbent Deputy Mayor, told the audience that Saugeen Shores is the envy of Bruce County.  "Our council and town are seen as a model for co-operation.  We have gotten it right.  One thing I do not believe in," he added, "is the hiring of outside consultants for thousands of dollars when we have the expertise right here in the community, much of it through our retirees."  He also pointed out that he is against the Green Energy Act set out by the province.  "This is nothing more than taking control and power away from the municipalities over their own decision making."

In Saugeen Township ward, there are two newcomers, Gary Brown and Cindy Cartwright, up against incumbent Taun Frosst.

Although this is Brown's first venture into the political arena, he is not unknown in the community.  He is past-President of the Chamber of Commerce, has chaired the Pumpkinfest Festival antique car show for 14 years and, known as 'Mr. Cruiser' has raised more than $165,000 for the local hospital through his weekly Cruisers' Night car show held in Southampton throughout the summers.

Contender, Cindy Cartwright, had several areas of concern that she addressed.  "I was a member some years ago on the Hospital Reconstructive Committee and I believe now, as I did then, that we need a hospital with a full service emergency room.  The waterfront is also of paramount importance to me and there must be a plan put in place to protect it."  Cartwright also said that she is very concerned about the interference in municipal government and its decisions by other levels of government.

Incumbent for the ward, Taun Frosst, agreed that the waterfront is one of his major concerns also.  In the past four years, in addition to be a councillor, Frosst sat on the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and the Parks and Trails Committee.   "I have sat through a budget process," he added, "and I know first-hand how this council has tried to keep any tax increases as low as possible."

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Friday, September 24, 2010