Jennifer Cobb

Wellington Ward Three

Former school trustee Jennifer Cobb lives, shops and plays in Wellington. “I raised my daughter here and this is where we call ‘home,’” she said. “I want to preserve the good life that I enjoy here.” Cobb, an active hiker and camper who swims in Lake Ontario year-round, said being self-employed has instilled a good economy of both money and time. “I have the time, energy and a deep desire to serve my community, and am available for the demands of council,” she said. As well as serving 12 years on the school board, she has worked as a volunteer for many local organizations. She also has extensive anti-bias training and holds a York University certificate in governance.

“I am running for council because I believe in the power of representational government, and know that representational government only works when there is good representation, someone who is accessible, responsive, communicative and available,” she said. “I also believe in the practice of service. Whether it is in my yoga/pilates practice, with my garden produce, or with my attention and time, I understand that I must give back to my community.”

Cobb said her strengths include a long professional history in community outreach and development and the experience of being a community-based researcher. “I know how to collect, summarize and use both empirical (statistics, reports and printed data) and anecdotal data (from people’s stories and experiences) to shape advocacy and measure change.”

Among the County issues that are important to her are: promoting broader equity and inclusion, and securing primary health-care providers.

To address the lack of affordable housing in the county, Cobb advocates maintaining the moratorium on short-term accommodations and halting the grandparenting of STA licences when houses are sold. “[We must] tighten up the licensing process and increase the rate, treat STAs as a commercial business, require commercial insurance and fire safety systems, tax STAs as commercial properties and charge commercial water/sewer rates.”

She added that while younger families are already being attracted to the County, “Council must take action to end the current cycle of gross economic erosion of the County [by enacting] by-laws and practices which limit ‘profiteering.’

On another issue, Cobb said, “Tourism management is not working. Residents have faced punitive actions, fines and requisite passes. Tourists have faced ridiculous fees, fines and discrimination. Our public beach is being overwhelmed by overuse on weekends, and over-staffed and overcharged on weekdays.” She said the County needs “a high-level professional planner to help us devise a sustainable model which welcomes tourism, manages the volume and traffic issues, and enables residents to feel safe, secure and respected.”

When it comes to the waterworks system, she said too many decisions at council are being made by people who are not on the system, adding: “It is unfair for someone who uses a well to relegate the cost of the waterworks services to the small number of people who are on them.” She also said there is a need to develop alternative funding sources and revenue streams to create a healthy and diversified waterworks budget.

Cobb said a long-term plan is needed to ensure that natural assets, heritage buildings, environment and ecologically diverse lands are protected. “Our tree canopy is dwindling, water quality continues to decline, and the increased pressures of visitors are overwhelming the natural gems of the County.”

The Wellington candidate would also like to see a smaller council with its members skilled in governance, finance, legal matters, audit, planning and development, environmental management and social services including housing. “With a smaller council, a living wage could be paid, attracting a wider selection of skilled candidates, who would be required to ‘serve’ the entire County, and not just their regional area,” she said.