Endorsements

BY: RICK CONROY AND COREY ENGELSDORFER
Prince Edward County’s municipal council

To view Gary Mooney’s All Candidate’s Survey, please click here.

WARD ONE – PICTON Picton boasts five strong candidates seeking a seat around the horesehoe in the next term of council. Kate MacNaughton has worked hard and demonstrated keen insight on issues ranging from municipal waterworks to the role of council in the community. Ray Hobson has pursued this council with a methodical plan and an emphasis on asking questions—sorting the wheat from the chaff—then relying on his analytical experience to find workable solutions.

Phil St. Jean is bringing a positive can-do attitude to his candidacy. His lifelong experience in this community has led him to see issues not as problems, but rather things to be fixed. And he wants to be part of the solution.

Mark Rose says plainly he represents a younger generation, and is eager to tackle the challenges of local government proactively. Leaning into problems may bring him headaches, but it is certainly a more favourable approach than letting issues fester in the dark.

Barry Turpin represents the wise elder among the Picton candidates, even-tempered, reasonable and experienced. In four previous terms, Barry could always be counted on to provide the sober, reasoned position.

Stephanie Bell’s candidacy has sought to provide a voice to those not often heard at Shire Hall. While energetic, her running-from-the- fringe campaign has lacked focus and discipline.

It is time for renewal at Shire Hall. There is an opportunity for meaningful, cultural change in how we are represented on our local government.

Among several strong contenders, we endorse Kate MacNaughton and Mark Rose.

WARD TWO – BLOOMFIELD / HALLOWELL
Gord Fox has gained a wealth of experience around the council table, and we believe he genuinely wants to make the right decision. But despite good intentions and a general good nature, he has struggled to present a clear set of principles or convictions despite his long tenure around the council table.

Brad Nieman has struggled to find his voice in his first term of council. His insight into the operations of a municipality has, on occasion, prompted important questions, but he has lacked the tools and the perseverance to get answers.

Gil Leclerc brings a keen focus on the financial underpinnings of Shire Hall to his candidacy, combined with an embrace of what he describes as the “Common Good”. Less clear however is the depth of his grasp of municipal finances and who he figures would define the Common Good.

Phil Prinzen has presented an upbeat and pragmatic approach to his candidacy. He is plain spoken and has worked hard in this campaign, putting in the hours to listen to the views of voters inside and out of Bloomfield / Hallowell. He understands that a new generation is required to make the cultural shift needed at Shire Hall in order to address this changing community.

We endorse Phil Prinzen, and we endorse Brad Nieman while encouraging him to find his voice and move beyond second-guessing management decisions, and instead direct his energy to finding concensus solutions to the bigger issues on council’s agenda.

WARD THREE – WELLINGTON
We love Jim Dunlop. It is no exaggeration to say that without his tireless energy and focus we would not have a great new arena and community centre in our village, as well as a great many other village attributes. He has served this community well and selflessly. That said, Shire Hall is in desperate need of a cultural change. The issues and challenges are bigger and more complex than ever. They require a different approach.

Mike Harper brings to the role of councillor a long career of experience in researching and understanding problems, defining challenges and developing solutions that work. He has done so in an environment where the tools are influence and persuasion. It is not good enough on a large council to have good ideas, it is just as important that a consensus is persuaded to share that view.

Brent Kleinsteuber offers his youth and a demonstrated volunteer activism in service to his community. His campaign has been enthusiastic and at times inspiring. He is encouraged to continue to pursue community participation, for there are a great many roles for his talents and energy.

We endorse Mike Harper.

WARD FOUR – AMELIASBURGH
It is a diverse field of candidates running for the three council seats in Ameliasburgh. Janice Maynard has been a studious and hardworking representative though two terms. She comes prepared for meetings , typically armed with clear views and positions. But the once activist-councillor has morphed lately into a defender of status quo at Shire Hall. She is encouraged to embrace the coming transformation of council.

Roy Pennell has been a passionate inquisitor of municipal operations. He has conspicuously gone beyond his ward to know the issues and concerns felt in other County communities. But Pennell’s focus is almost exclusively on small-ball issues. This may make for good retail politics, but the County needs the next term of council to understand the bigger issues around our growing infrastructure deficit, expanding the cost of local government and municipal services. This requires a different set of skills.

Michael McLeod brings a strong resume to his candidacy. He is a land planner by training and spent much of his career in management of regulated businesses. His background should equip him to navigate the complex business of municipal governance. He has also demonstrated a strong understanding of the issues that are most vexing to the County’s future—with the need to spur residential development at the top of the list.

Andreas Bolik comes cold to the business of local politics, but counter-intuitively that may prove to be an asset. Bolik is a retired career military engineer with a law degree. This experience has surely provided him with the skills and aptitude to sort through the operational and governance issues that has hobbled previous terms of council. He speaks, however, a bit too easily about the grievances some Ward 4 residents feel toward Shire Hall. He will be encouraged to steer around parochial concerns and train his abilities and talents on the bigger challenges the County is facing.

The remaining field in Ward 4 Ameliasburgh are to be applauded for their participation in the election, but neither Paul Boyd, Terry Shortt, Bill McMahon nor Tim Fellows seem inclined or particularly well-equipped to move County council forward.

Paul Boyd has been a serial contender for mayor in past elections, but chose to step aside this time in favour of fellow Ameliasburgher Dianne O’Brien. Boyd puts forward some good ideas but has not shown how he would implement them nor demonstrated a particularly strong aptitude for working with others to achieve them.

Terry Shortt served on council previously in Sophiasburgh, but failed in his re-election bid in 2014. He’s back, this time hoping to represent the folks in Ameliasburgh. Shortt is a good speaker and understands well how the council table works. But he brings a stale view of local politics to this race. His candidacy represents a throwback to the way things used to be, and could prove to be a hindrance to council transformation.

Bill McMahon is a strong and vocal supporter of the Consecon community and as well as community theatre in the County. But his prominent personal attribute—a loud and forceful opinion— also makes him a poor fit for council. It is a forum where the best decisions come from a vibrant exchange of views. It is hard to envision McMahon coping in that setting.

Tim Fellows adds some colour to the race— but his outlook and case for running are far too confused to make him a serious candidate.

We endorse, Janice Maynard, Andreas Bolik and Michael McLeod.

WARD FIVE – ATHOL
Jamie Forrester has been a smart and independent- minded representative of the folks in Athol for the last two terms. A fiery temperament, however, has tended to lead him down some dead ends and toward some confusing choices. It has also hobbled his ability to work toward a consensus—he is more comfortable going against the grain. These qualities may endear him to Athol residents, but may hinder the transformation necessary around the council table.

Nicola Chapman seems an earnest and sincere advocate for positive change. It is admirable that she and others are stepping up and willing to commit their time and energy to local government. And while her ideas sound reasonable and genuine, they also seem driven in response to unwanted change in her community and specifically with the provincial park. This is fair and justified, yet council at this juncture needs more builders with a view to fixing the institution.

Bob Rogers, too, seems overtly motivated by the challenges and problems the beach and provincial park impose upon residents of Athol. They are valid and pressing issues, yet a council seat may not be the most effective way to bring meaningful change. The park is a provincial facility. Better these folks continue to demand answers from both levels—provincial and municipal—and build a coalition from outside the constraints of representation.

We endorse Jamie Forrester.

WARD SIX – SOPHIASBURGH
Bill Roberts was acclaimed in Sophiasburgh. (The second Sophiasburgh representative was eliminated by the last council’s spare winnowing from 16 to 14 members. Bloomfield was swallowed up by Hallowell.) Bill Roberts has been a strong and energetic advocate on several files in his first term on council. He understands well how the machinery of institutional politics works—about what can be achieved and how to get things done. While this newspaper disagrees with the councillor on certain ideas and policy, we have never doubted his sincerity, desire and commitment to make the County a better place for everyone.

WARD SEVEN – HILLIER
Ernie Margetson inspires real enthusiasm for the next term of council. He is whip smart, knows the workings of Shire Hall, inside and out, and his deep understanding of the forces buffeting this community is unparalleled. He served as the County’s head engineer before establishing his own engineering practice in which he guided some of the most interesting and important investments in this community.

His demeanor is calm and civil, but it masks a burning passion for his community—particularly in areas such as architectural heritage and our environmental legacy.

Steve Graham has been genial and inquisitive in his term as council, but has been an unremarkable advocate in four years around the council table.

Angie Baldwin offers an interesting resume and a compelling perspective on the difficulties of entering the business of farming in general, and acquiring farmland in particular. Her skills and interests position her as an emerging political voice in the County.

We endorse Ernie Margetson.

WARD EIGHT – NORTH MARYSBURGH
David Harrison has been steeped in County politics for a long time. This experience has been both an asset and a liability. He is sporadically conflicted out of debates and decision-making due to his deep interests in the community. Yet, he understands better than most, the roots of many of the issues shaping North Marysburgh and the County. He also actively ventures across the municipality to inform himself of the local issues that arise in various corners of this community.

Stewart Bailey brings a fresh perspective to North Marysburgh politics. Newly retired from the LCBO, he is well-trained in effectively navigating the thicket of bureaucracy. He sees a community that has changed dramatically over the past two decades—a transformation he suggests needs to be better understood and better managed around the council table.

As one of the first to announce his candidacy, Bailey offers a serious alternative in North Marysburgh.

We endorse Stewart Bailey.

WARD NINE – SOUTH MARYSBURGH
South Marysburgh is another community producing an abundance of good candidates. John Hirsch is a quiet spoken man, but when he speaks he backs his words with action. Hirsch gave his name to the fight against the wind power project around Milford. In a cause populated by vocal and animated actors, John has been a stoic and stable force throughout, steadfastly laying out his arguments and ideas, and in the case of the Milford wind project, achieving a measure of success.

He brings positive ideas to improving the working relationship between council and Shire Hall management. His eagerness to play a role in the rewriting of the County’s official plan signals a willingness to do the tedious and grinding work of a council member. He is encouraged to put more consideration into some of his policy positions and the broader implication of bold, but perhaps illconsidered policy positions.

Brian Sword wants to bring ideas—and the celebration of new ideas—to the council table. Working in big and small companies has given him an appreciation of the importance of perspective and open-mindedness in municipal policy making. As a young (40ish) father of young children, his outlook is rare among current and prospective council members.

Elis Zeigler brings a thoughtful and reasoned approach to the challenges of our municipal government. Ziegler understands the importance of consensus formation and has the skills to back it up, with extensive experience in community-building and housing solutions. Ziegler understands, too, the need for the County South Shore community to heal from the divisions created by damaging provincial policies seeking to industrialize this pastoral and rugged countryside.

In a very tough call, we endorse Elis Zeigler as the individual with the best set of overall skills and experience to effectively contribute to the positive transformation of council.