Mark Henry

BLOOMFIELD/HALLOWELL WARD 2

Mark Henry sees an array of issues facing the County, but the Ward 2 candidate for Council feels that Willis Road is a clear example of what’s wrong with local government today.

“It’s a short road—perhaps it missed the scan process that prioritizes road improvements,” he says. “The road is like driving over a pioneer days log road. My poor car vibrates to the point where driving in the ditch looks more appealing!”

The former dairy farmer and insurance executive admits that fixing one broken road may be difficult at a time when budgets are tight. “We’re trying to reduce tax increases and get more value out of our $100 million budget. It’s probably not going to be easy to do what hasn’t been done before.”

“Taking some time to review how we spend money, where we spend it and why is a start,” he says. “New sources of revenue such as decreasing the number of properties owned by the County and thinking out of the box about new revenue streams (such as taking a percentage on aggregate sales) are areas of interest to me.”

Mr. Henry has strong doubts about projections of County growth. “When we moved here in 1979 there were about 27,000 residents … there still are. It sounds like the provincial and federal governments are trying to strong-arm us into build, build, build. Who is coming? I have heard that we have about 600 properties for sale—the market is clearly not lively right now. Why would/should we expect that there is demand for housing when, in general, there isn’t?”

On the issue of affordable housing, he would like to see the County explore small prefab homes as an option. “There are companies that offer stackable, factory-built living units—quickly. Could we attract/contract them to construct livable communities on properties already set aside for housing within our towns? I’m actively looking to find out more.”

A grandfather of eight, Mr. Henry worries that expensive living conditions and low job prospects in the County make it difficult for young people to stay here. “The prospects for work need to improve locally. With the mushroom plant closing, one of our largest employers (perhaps our largest) has displaced over 300 workers. We need to revisit our roots. The County shipped massive amounts of farm produce over many decades. Value-added produce may be one of our best chances to grow jobs here. With ‘buy Canadian’ very much on our minds maybe we need to encourage a larger greenhouse sector—like Leamington.

When asked why voters should choose him on the ballot, he replies, “I’m really not sure how to answer that. From what I know of the other candidates, I am convinced they are all prepared to work on your behalf. They all bring a range of skills and experiences that could be applied to productively benefiting the County.”