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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-08, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2000. Central Huron candidates say water quality biggest issue RON MCKAY Candidate for Central Huron reeve, McKay has 10 years experience on Clinton council, six as deputy-reeve and three as mayor. Issues of amalgamation, water problems and public health con­ cerns make these interesting times for municipal politicians, he says. Another big issue will be combining two rural and one urban ward into a sin­ gle cohesive municipality. His personal goal is “to achieve this. Making Central Huron work as one.” CAROL MITCHELL Ending two terms as Clinton reeve and finishing her second year as county coun­ cil warden, Mitchell is hoping to be reeve of Central Huron, a position that will “require commitment and dedication. If I am allowed the opportunity to.serve I am prepared to work very hard to ensure Central Huron is a vital community.” Water quality, nutrient management and health care reform are key issues, she says. Her personal goal is to knit together three municipalities as smoothly as possi­ ble while maintaining needs and respecting the histories. BERT DYKSTRA Dykstra, a nine-year veteran of Goderich Twp. council, is seeking the deputy-reeve post for Central Huron. He believes his experience will make him a good representative through the amalga­ mation transition and in dealing with water quality issues. His goal is to serve ratepayers on coun­ ty and local council ip a fair and equitable manner as he understands the concerns of both rural and urban residents. He has served on the Clinton Fire Board and Goderich Twp. recreation committee for eight years. BRUCE BERGSMA Besides serving two years on Hullett council, Bergsma is a past president of the county pork producers and the Ontario Pork Congress. He is seeking the position of Ward 2 councillor in Central Huron to “carry on a job that has been started with amalgama­ tion” and to serve the best interests of the people of Hullett. Amalgamation, as well as the issues of agriculture and water quality, are the most important challenges facing municipali­ ties, he says. JOHN BEZAIRE A former Clinton councillor Bezaire is seeking the position of deputy-reeve. He has been a member of the Clinton Hospital Foundation, and worked on var­ ious committees within the town. He chose to run, he said, because “with a young family and small business I feel it is important to be involved and con- tribute to the community that provides us with so much.” Delivering services equally and fairly — is the biggest challenge. His goal is excel­ lent service to ratepayers at reasonable cost. economic development, provincial downloading of services and water quality. His goal is to serve the ratepayers tothe best of his ability providing the best service for their dollars. ROBERT SZUSZ With 12 years experience on council, the Hullett deputy-reeve would like to be the new deputy-reeve of Central Huron.He has served on the arena, fire, cemetery, Auburn Hall boards, been chair of the landfill site committee and repre­ sented the township on county council. He wants to help the new municipality through its transition and encourage its growth. The most important issues are TOM DUIZER Duizer, seeking a position as Ward 2 councillor, served on Hullett council from 1971-1974, then from 1992-94, and presently. He chartered the Londesboro Lions and served as treasurer. He served as chair of the United Church board of stewards and has been on area boards on behalf of council. Saying he wants to be a voice for Hullett residents, he sees the transition of the new municipality as the big issue. His person­ al goal is “to ensure the voices of all ratepayers in the ward system are heard.” Candidates voice opinion in survey Municipal election candidates from across the county voiced their opinions on smoking by-laws in a recent survey put out by the Coalition for a smoke-free Huron- Perth. “All workplaces and public places should be 100 per cent smoke-free,” stated one candidate, while another argued that “the public knows the dangers and ... can make their own decisions whether or not to enter a smoking area.” Most respondents, however, hold opinions somewnere in the middle of these two positions. Of the 17 candidates who responded to the survey from all across the county, over 71 per cent support a second­ hand smoke bylaw that would per­ mit the use of separately-enclosed, separately-ventilated smoking rooms. MARG ANDERSON The three-year veteran of Hullett coun­ cil is seeking the position of councillor for Ward 2. A member of the transition board, Anderson says, “I know what the intentions are in setting up the new municipality and would like to see them carried out.” The most important issue is having urban and rural ratepayers see themselves as one municipality. The environment is also a concern. Her personal goal is fair representation. DOUG HUGILL With three years experience on council and three years as deputy-reeve in Hullett, Hugill is prepared to serve as councillor for Ward 2 because he feels his experience will be beneficial in facing the many challenges sure to be part of the new municipality. Water quality and manure management are big and costly issues, he says. His personal goal is to offer a common sense approach and fairness as a repre­ sentative of the ratepayers in Hullett. Running for Central Huron in the Clinton ward are Darren Stevenson, Bill Colquhoun and Lynda McKenna, while for Goderich Twp. the candidates are Laurie Cox, Alison Lobb and James Eric Kirk. ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 13,2000 VOTING TIMES: 10:00 am-8:00 pm REEVE: CENTRAL HURON to ctaite the for CODE Self-sufficiency through literacy in the developing world For information, call 1-800-661-2633 on smoking bylaws MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2000 (Section 45, Municipal Elections Act, 1996) the The majority of respondents feel that it is most important to make smoke-free our restaurants, work­ places, and bowling alleys and, par­ ticularly, our arenas and shopping malls. Bars and billiard halls, on the other hand, were deemed by majority to be least important making smoke-free. How well the opinions of county’s municipal candidates reflect the wishes of its constituents remains to be seen, though. “Smoking by-laws protect the health of each and every citizen,” says Patricia MacGregor, Kippen area resident and volunteer with the Coalition for a Smoke-free Huron- Perth. “When casting votes in the upcoming election it is most impor­ tant that voters consider how each candidate will represent him or her­ self in regards to issues such as smoking bylaws. To take the stand that the rights of smokers must be observed in public places is to turn a blind eye to the obvious health risks and lack of regard to the majority of our population who have chosen not to smoke.” For more information, contact the Coalition for a Smoke-free Huron- Perth, c/o Health and Library Complex, 77722 London Road, RR5, Clinton, ON N0M 1L0. MUNICIPALITY OF CENTRAL HURON HELPING THE WORLD WRITE NOW On November 13 ELECT RON McKAY ADVANCE VOTE will be held on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (for the whole municipality) LOCATION: Clinton Town Hall TIME: 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. VOTING LOCATIONS: WARD 1: Goderich Township Residents Goderich Township Rail, Holmesville WARD 2: Hullett Township Residents, Londesboro Hall WARD 3: Town of Clinton Residents, Central Huron Secondary School, 165 Princess St. East, Clinton L. M. Cranston, A.M.C.T. Election Clerk