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The Citizen, 2010-10-21, Page 35THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010. PAGE 35.Continued from page 26to Huron County Council, Torontoor even Ottawa. Citing a questionasked at the previous night’s all-candidates meeting in Brusselsregarding how far the candidates would be willing to “bring the fight” for their citizens, Lee says it’s important to have an issue with a vision behind it and unite behind that vision. He said it’s not enough to get mad and slam your shoe on the table, that people need to be united behind a vision that will help others see what you’re trying to achieve. Mayoral candidate Paul VanderMolen said that he has strong roots in politics, that his grandfather and his great-grandfather represented the area in Ottawa. He spent his early days in Hullett Twp. and then bought property in McKillop. He is new to the world of politics, but has served on several boards and is up to the challenge of governing a municipality. Current deputy-mayor and mayoral candidate Bernie MacLellan said that it’s important to try to push the envelope as far as youcan, even when the fight may seemhopeless.He cited an example from lastweek’s session of Huron CountyCouncil’s Committee of the Whole, when yet another bridge was slated to be downloaded to Huron East. In the coming years, of Huron County’s 31 remaining boundary bridges, 16 of them are slated to be downloaded to Huron East. MacLellan talked to the county’s roads superintendent and found that he couldn’t change the downloading no matter what measures he took. He did, however, find that he could change the timeline, saying that he convinced the superintendent to download just one bridge to Huron East per year, stretching the process out over 16 years and making it more manageable for the municipality. MacLellan said that was an example of the never-give-up attitude he hopes to bring to the mayor position. Grey resident Pam McLellan, who served as a community representative for Grey on the recent Accommodation Review process that Grey Central Public School wasinvolved in is running for the AvonMaitland District School Boardtrustee position. She said decliningenrollment is a big issue goingforward and that she believes strongly in the importance of a strong basic education for students. Her competition, incumbent Wilhelmina Laurie, said she brought over 35 years of experience to the role and that the most important issue to her is to see the “transition process” through. After being involved with the recent Accommodation Review in Brussels and Grey, she said she wants to see the transition process through to ensure that students from the area continue to receive a quality education. She also expressed her concerns with the eventual declining enrollment issues facing the board in coming years. Third candidate Robert Hunking was unable to attend the meeting due to a previous engagement, but sent an e-mail apologizing for his absence. On the issue of a declining population, several candidates hadtheories. Steffler said that industry has to bebrought into the area, bringing morefamilies into Huron East, while Leesaid that the area needs to concentrate on small entrepreneurs, citing his work with the Huron Business Development Corporation, saying that people would be “astounded” at some of the ideas that are being created in the area. Lee cited iClipArt in Brussels specifically, saying that now with the internet, if local merchants have products that customers around the world want to buy, it’s possible. MacLellan said that while the area may want the population to grow, residents have to ask themselves if they are ready to deal with what comes along with an increased population. The issue of the Brussels Library was raised, with McLellan saying that while he has some ideas, he would want to hear what the public has to say about it. He acknowledged that in 2007, residents voted in favour of a new library, but he said a lot of time has passed and that it may be time to revisit the issue and see ifopinions have changed.He talked about the potentialexpansion of the arena andwondered aloud if the library projectcould be done in conjunction with a project at the community centre, which would inevitably save money. Newman said it was a very important issue, while Diehl said the libraries need to stay viable. Bauer said that installing an elevator in the current structure is an unreasonable option, but that the library issue is worth another look. A ratepayer asked Laurie about administration costs at the school board’s office in Seaforth. He said that after reviewing the school board’s budget during the Accommodation Review process, he was appalled at the costs. The ratepayer asked that if enrollment is declining and several schools are being closed, will costs be cut at the office and will staff be reduced. Laurie said that she couldn’t guarantee that staff would be lost and said that the Avon Maitland District School Board is actually one of the cheapest school boards around. Continued from page 1 mitigate the loss of the Blyth Public School. North Huron also needs to work with partners like Morris- Turnberry on economic develop- ment, he said. “There needs to be one goal,” he said. “We all succeed together.” Bernie Bailey, a new candidate for Wingham Ward, put the entire emphasis of his speech on the need to economic development to the point he ran overtime, was cut off, and ended up using the question period to finish up. He promoted himself as a “closer”, someone who could actually get the job done in attracting businesses to create a broader tax base. “Talking is a great thing,” he said, “but you have to make a decision.” He cited his long battle as owner of Sunrise Dairy with provincial officials and multinational dairies as evidence of his persistence in pursuing a cause and his later success with other companies and his recent success in starting an appliance repair business to illustrate his knowledge of business. The one candidate not to list economic development as the top issue was incumbent Wingham councillor Alma Conn, who listed high taxes as her greatest concern. She said she was very concerned about taxpayers subsidizing people from neighbouring municipalities who are using the services provided by North Huron. Others did list taxes among their priorities, however. MacGowan said tax rates are the biggest challenge for council and need to be tackled by finding better ways to get things done for less. He gave as an example the day care centre in Wingham which went from a deficit of $100,000 in 2007 to breaking even last year. Riach said the municipality has to find more efficient ways to operate and he would advocate responsible spending. He pointed to his past experience when he lived in Innerkip and, as president of the Lions Club, helped build a community centre with no municipal tax dollars required. He then chaired the community centre board for four years, operating it without municipal support. In another question, Greg Sarachman of Blyth asked candidates, how, with the provincial government cutting services, they would act to reverse that impact on the community. Campbell suggested that sometimes the municipality needed to go ahead and do things on its own. He pointed out that often government grants require the municipality to provide half the money anyway. MacGowan said North Huron can’t sit around and wait for the provincial government. The solutions need to come from the grassroots and the people of the community need to sit down and create a plan. Bailey said a lot of government money is wasted. He suggested it made more sense to talk to other communities about how they attracted new businesses and talk to businesses that have located locally, like Pioneer Seeds, about what attracted them to choose this area. Riach said that first impressions are really important in attracting business. “We have to keep making our communities attractive. We have to support our businesses.” Vodden said that rural and small communities need to come together to get attention for all they have to offer. Knott said government grants aren’t the be-all and end-all. “Just because there’s a government grant out there doesn’t mean we have to get one.” Tough questions arise for trustee candidates Finances are crucial for North Huron 50th Wedding Anniversary Please join in celebrating Ross and Wilma Higgins’ 50th Wedding Anniversary Sunday, October 24, 2~4 pm Belgrave United Church Best Wishes Only Greg and Judy (Mason) Cook along with Garry Young are pleased to announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter Tonya Mason to Josh Hummel son of Andrew and Joyce Hummel. Wedding to take place Saturday, October 23, 2010 at St. Andrew’s United Church, Kippen, Ontario Open reception to follow at Seaforth Recreation Centre. Ben’s 60th Birthday OPEN HOUSE Saturday, October 30th 1-4 pm Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church 119 John’s Ave, Auburn Ben Ten Pas is turning 60 and we want to celebrate surrounded by friends and family. With the recent event of dad’s heart attack, there is even more reason to celebrate the Blessings of life that God has given him. So spread the word and let’s make this day one to remember. Happy Birthday Dad. The Londesborough Happy Gang Seniors held their regular card party at the Londesborough Community Hall on Friday, Oct. 8. There were over 15 tables in play. The score of 80 points by Bill and Fay Albert took first place. Second- place money was won by Geraldine Dale and Kay Hesselwood with 75 points. Bob and June Thomas were in third place with a score of 70. There was a tie for the most lone hands. Four couples played five lone hands successfully. Dianne and Marg Krauter, Neil Hatt and Edna McLellan, Marjorie and Gloria and Ethel and Lorna. The group’s next evening of cards will be on Nov. 12. The regular monthly meeting of the Happy Gang Seniors has been changed to Tuesday, Oct. 26. The potluck meal will begin at noon to accommodate the card party later that afternoon. Happy Gang