Dianne O’Brien

Office of Mayor

Dianne O’Brien has a proven track record when it comes to pleasing her constituents. For 12 years O’Brien has proudly represented the Ward of Ameliasburgh, and had she not set her sights on the mayor’s seat, might possibly have been Ward Four’s councillor for 12 more. What’s also impressive is that back in March, O’Brien was chosen by her fellow councillors to act as interim mayor in Robert Quaiff’s absence. Her loyalty in Ward Four is fierce. Since 2006, O’Brien has been passionate about making sure residents in her Ward have been made to feel that their concerns and opinions are being heard. She is also an excellent communicator, working for 31 years in the telecommunications industry, where she spent the last few years of that career negotiating with management on contract agreements. O’Brien also credits her large family and her training as an adult facilitator in helping build her negotiating skills.

“When you grow up with five brothers and five sisters you learn how to be good at sharing, compromise, communicating efficiently and protecting your assets,” says O’Brien.

O’Brien was the second to file her papers on June 25, behind only Steve Ferguson. This is her first time running for mayor. O’Brien is born and raised in the County, growing up in Ameliasburgh on County Road 28. Now in the last week of the campaign, she wants to make sure she’s pounding the pavement and going door-to-door until the very end. There was one final all-candidates meeting in North Marysburgh last night, and then it’s back to knocking on doors, which O’Brien admits has been a big part of her campaign.

As O’Brien was putting in the proverbial kilometres for this campaign, the two issues that came to the forefront the most were affordable housing and stable employment. Regarding stable employment, O’Brien thinks that the real issue around the employment concern is the lack of training of any kind in this area. She would like to see some form of skilled trades centre open up sometime soon, because retaining skilled labourers is directly related to her other top concern, the fact is that the skilled labourers of the middle-class won’t be able to find a place to live in the County even if there is full-time work. Small family-homes are now being sold for $400,000, where just a few years ago you could still find a decent home with property in the County for $225,000. When asked why she is putting her hat in the ring for the mayor’s seat, O’Brien said that she sees enormous potential in this time of great change.

“I think there are opportunities that we are missing. We are transitioning from a small rural community to an internationally acclaimed travel destination and I think there are opportunities in both the small business growth within the community and the tourist industry,”says O’Brien.

O’Brien also mentions that there is a cultureclash currently occurring in the County. The tourists are coming in greater numbers year after year and everyone is looking at the almighty dollar. New housing developments are slated in areas where the current infrastructures cannot support a single new home, let alone a subdivision. Her worry is that a balance will never be struck between the tourists visiting every season, and the impact those tourists have on the County’s infrastructure. O’Brien fears we are losing our grasp on the ability to preserve our own heritage.

If elected, O’Brien would look to see a strong, unified, cohesive council. She would rather make group based decisions than meet with people one-on-one. No secret meetings and no hidden agendas. O’Brien would also like training for the new council in areas such as conflict resolution and budget analysis. She would also like to streamline the whole building and planning section of the County and make it easier for new businesses to get started out here.