My picks

ENDORSEMENTS BY COLUMNIST RICK CONROY

PICTON WARD ONE
Jane Lesslie brings a critical finance background to her candidacy for council. Her experience and training promise a new focus on discipline and rigour in measuring the performance of Shire Hall. Ditching the line-byline budget analysis in favour of a dedicated budget committee is long overdue. So too, is the revival of a waterworks committee, though this corner believes a full-blown commission— peopled by staff and customers is the better way forward. Lesslie gets my thumbs up on Oct. 24.

Phil St-Jean has demonstrated the rare ability to navigate the in-between world of old and new. He understands and represents traditional County values, but recognizes the community is changing and that the municipal council needs to move with it. St-Jean has earned this column’s endorsement.

Kate McNaughton has been a solid and forceful voice for those less powerful in this community. She has served as a kind but relentless conscience of Council this past term. If McNaughton were running elsewhere, she would have gotten my nod for another term.

Peter Morch has demonstrated he understands the pressure points in this community and has presented sensible proposals for housing, tourism, waterworks and governance. But Morch hasn’t been part of the County’s discussion and debate until recently. There are many forums and means to bring about change in this community; this column encourages Morch to stay active in the discussion.

Phil Adie, too, demonstrates a good understanding of the challenges facing Prince Edward County. While his technology background may provide exciting ways forward, it is unclear that a seat on council is necessary to promote these ideas.

Jane Lesslie and Phil St-Jean get my endorsement. But—and this is a critical but— both Picton representatives must make housing an urgent priority next term. That means townhomes, apartments and rental units in 2023.

BLOOMFIELD/HALLOWELL WARD TWO
Sarah Moffat is whip-smart, sure on her feet and has demonstrated a keen understanding of the critical files before this municipality. She has also shown a keen sense of how the machinery of government works, boding well her prospect of turning ideas into workable policy.

Phil Prinzen has been a sturdy representative for Bloomfield and Hallowell. He has demonstrated strong leadership on agricultural and rural issues—as well as a balanced and nuanced understanding of the overall County economy. Prinzen doesn’t speak to hear his own voice. When he does speak up, others listen.

Brad Nieman has been a diligent and hardworking representative. He brought an insider’s point of view to the governance of the County, particularly around issues of capital works and infrastructure operations. His instincts are sound, and his heart remains deeply invested in the well-being of this community. But it is time for a new voice in Bloomfield and Hallowell.

Sarah Moffat and Phil Prinzen get my nod for these two council seats.

WELLINGTON WARD THREE
I am conflicted by a close professional relationship with one of the candidates and therefore won’t be making an endorsement.

AMELIASBURGH WARD FOUR
This is a tough one. The ward elects three council members by dint of its large population of about 5,000- plus electors. Five candidates are running in Ameliasburgh, including the lone incumbent, Janice Maynard. Maynard is likely favoured to win one of these seats. She is hardworking and tenacious on the files that matter to her and her community. But she has been on council too long. In 2010 she was keen to fight for waterworks issues in Consecon and Carrying Place. But in recent years, she has become more of a defender of the status quo than a protector of Ameliasburgh interests. Maynard has agitated for vastly more road investment— without a plan or clear source of funds—hinting at massive property tax increases. This is unsupportable.

Bill Tkach comes to this race with a solid business background and moderate outlook. As a senior sales manager at a national financial services firm, he honed the discipline and open-mindedness required to take on the challenges of the next council. In any other race, this might not suffice, but Ameliasburgh is likely to need some serious representation—Bill Tkach provides the best promise.

Sam Grosso is an interesting and colourful character— a self-declared serial entrepreneur. The Globe and Mail described the former owner of the El Mocambo and Cadillac Lounge as ‘gregarious.’ Is this a fitting descriptor for a candidate on County council? Maybe. At the candidate meeting in Ameliasburgh, Grosso came across as a businessman ready to sink his teeth into a new challenge. Some of his prescriptions are ill-considered— perhaps impetuous—but there can be little doubt Grosso will bring energy and maybe a dose of lateral thinking to the council table.

Roy Pennell is a good man whose heart is in the right place. I didn’t endorse him in the last election because he struggles to acknowledge the difference between managing and governing. From his perspective, he might say that taking care of the pennies enables the dollars to take care of themselves. I think a council seat requires a broader outlook than this, but the pickings are slim in Ward 4. That said, Pennell can be counted upon as a vocal advocate for Ameliasburgh and the County.

Paul Boyd loves to run for council. Boyd was a noshow at the candidate’s meeting in Ameliasburgh, so it is difficult to discern what he would bring to the council table. His profile in the Times suggests he is out of step with the issues shaping this community.

Bill Tkach, Sam Grosso and Roy Pennell have earned my endorsement in 2022.

ATHOL WARD FIVE
With Jamie Forrester stepping aside after three terms on council, it is a slate of newcomers vying for the Athol seat. Mostly. Elis Zeigler ran second to John Hirsch in South Marsyburgh in 2018. Zeigler has presented good ideas around financial stability, infrastructure renewal and heritage.

Tom Harrison is an energetic campaigner and brings a wealth of experience to his candidacy.

Sam Branderhorst is a clear-voiced young dynamo that will surely remain part of the County conversation. Bob Rogers, however, was a surprise. While not the most gifted orator, Rogers proved he understands the issues and pressures well. I didn’t know much about his candidacy before Milford’s all-candidate meeting, but Rogers demonstrated that his experience and insight comfortably bridge the various constituencies in Athol.

With a foot deeply planted in the traditional agriculture sector, Rogers showed he is cleareyed about the reality that this place is changing— and Athol must be part of the change.

Bob Rogers has earned my endorsement in Athol.

SOPHIASBURGH WARD SIX
Bill Roberts has been a stand-out performer on council over two terms. His rich experience and deep knowledge have helped him steer council through some difficult files—at times at a personal cost. With the promise of some new and younger faces around the table, Roberts will be counted upon to provide muchneeded guidance and support in the early going.

Paul Drake chose to run to ensure Sophiasburgh residents had a choice in this election. He is to be commended for this. He has identified housing, doctor shortage and Highway 49 as the most pressing issues in his campaign.

Bill Roberts is my choice in Sophiasburgh.

HILLIER WARD SEVEN
Dee Hazell is a passionate and committed advocate for a healthy community that respects its heritage and the fragility of the environment. She is smart and committed. She understands the workings of Shire Hall. It is unclear that Hazell has a firm grip on the dynamism that is Hillier’s value-added economy and the challenges that it faces in balancing growth and conservation.

Chris Braney commits to everything he turns his hands to. Since acquiring his Danforth Road farm, he has grown grapes and apples. Produced wine and cider. Grown sheep and donkeys. Braney brings more than 30 years of governance, policymaking and finance to his candidacy, having served on two school boards in Durham. He sits on the Prince Edward Heritage Advisory Committee. His governance and public policy experience equip him to hit the ground running in representing Hillier.

Chris Braney has earned my endorsement in Hillier.

NORTH MARYSBURGH WARD EIGHT
The Harrison family are stalwarts in North Marysburgh. David Harrison has been in and out of municipal politics for over three decades. As a former councillor, Harrison was diligent and hardworking. He travelled widely to speak to residents who were impacted by County decisions, policy or planning changes. Harrison listened and brought those messages back to the council discussion. But Shire Hall isn’t the same place he left in 2018. It has different challenges and opportunities. It is time for folks with a fresh perspective.

Ben Thornton is relatively new to Prince Edward County, but traces his roots here as his grandfather founded and operated Waupoos Canning. Thornton is married, raising three children, and works as a real estate agent. He has jumped into community volunteering serving as chair of the Regent Theatre and the board of the Glenwood Cemetery. He has made sensible proposals regarding tourism management, waterworks, climate change and the size of council.

Ben Thornton deserves the opportunity to see if they will work.

SOUTH MARYSBURGH WARD NINE
John Hirsch has been a calm, deliberate and thoughtful voice for South Marysburgh and the County in general. He has immersed himself in the issues of this community.

Ryan Kreutzwiser is a smart, young-ish and energetic candidate. He knows the files and offers clear, workable ideas to the County conversation. Were he running elsewhere, he would easily get the nod from this corner.

But John Hirsch has earned the right to represent South Marysburgh for another term.