10 QUESTIONS TO ASK SOMEONE RUNNING FOR VILLAGE COUNCIL

In January 2018, Strong Towns, an organization focused on building stronger, financially resilient and economically sustainable communities, published an article by Rachel Quednau titled “10 Questions to Ask Someone Running for Local Office.”

The questions were intended to help residents look beyond campaign promises and understand how candidates think about development, transportation, infrastructure, public engagement and the financial health of their communities.

I used those ten questions on my website when I ran for Deputy Mayor in 2018. Eight years later, I thought it would be worthwhile to answer the same questions again.

A lot has changed since 2018. I have had the privilege of serving two terms on Point Edward Council and have gained nearly eight years of experience at the municipal Council table. I've learned a great deal about our Village, municipal operations, budgets, infrastructure, development and governance — and I've also learned that some issues are considerably more complicated once you are responsible for making the decisions.

Some of the issues I identified in 2018 are still relevant today. Others have evolved, and my own perspective has evolved with them.

So here are my answers in 2026 — eight years, two elections and a lot of municipal experience later.

01

Do you think our main street/downtown is healthy and successful? If not, what would you do to change that?

I believe Point Edward has a strong foundation, but we can do more with what we have.

In 2018, I talked about creating a vision for our commercial areas and finding ways to encourage people travelling through Point Edward to stop, shop, eat and spend time here. I still believe that is important, but eight years at the Council table has reinforced for me that municipal government cannot simply create a vision and expect development to follow.

We need to be proactive partners.

I have personally met one-on-one with developers and property owners to make sure they understand that the Village is interested in their properties and wants to see them developed. I've shared my thoughts on the potential of their properties, discussed how a successful development could benefit both the community and the property owner, and worked to connect them with the appropriate Village and County staff and other interested parties who can help move an opportunity forward if they choose to pursue it.

That is the approach I believe we need to continue — being proactive, making connections and helping good ideas move from a conversation to a proposal.

We also need to look at the Village as a whole. Michigan Avenue, Helena and St. Clair Streets, Kendall Avenue, the downtown core, the waterfront and our other commercial areas all have a role to play.

Point Edward has tremendous advantages — our waterfront, tourism, hotels, restaurants, attractions, location and proximity to the international border. We need to make those assets work together.

The goal is to create a community where people don't just pass through Point Edward — they have a reason to stop, stay and come back.

03

How do you feel about the transportation options currently available in our community? Do we have enough options? If not, what will you do to increase those?

For a community our size, we have some good transportation options, but we also have unique challenges.

Point Edward is a small residential community located beside a major international border crossing and surrounded by regional transportation infrastructure. Transportation decisions that affect us are often made by organizations beyond the Village, which makes it even more important that Point Edward has a voice at the table. We also rely on Sarnia Transit to provide bus transportation to our community through a contracted service, and we need to work closely with them to ensure we are getting the maximum return on that investment while providing a service that meets the needs of our residents and visitors.

My experience as Chair of the OPP Detachment Board has also reinforced that transportation isn't simply about moving vehicles. It is about safety, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency response and the quality of life of the people who live here.

I would continue to work with Sarnia, the County, the Province, policing and transportation agencies to make sure Point Edward's interests are represented when transportation decisions are being considered.

We also need to look at opportunities to improve pedestrian and cycling connections within the Village and to our waterfront and trail systems.

The key is to be involved early — not react after decisions have already been made.

05

If you could change one thing in our Zoning By-law, what would it be and why?

Eight years ago, I answered this question by saying that our zoning should support a long-term strategic vision while remaining flexible and adaptable to new ideas.

I still believe that.

If I were to change one thing, however, it would be to focus on making our planning and development process more predictable and easier to understand.

That doesn't mean lowering our standards or compromising the character of Point Edward.

It means being clear about what we want, what the rules are, what information is required and how applicants can move through the process.

If we want responsible investment, we need to be a municipality that works with property owners and developers rather than one that simply waits for applications to arrive.

Clear expectations and consistent processes make it easier to attract the right development.

07

If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in our village, how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?

Interestingly, my basic answer to this question hasn't changed much in eight years.

I would start with: What problem are we trying to solve?

Then I would want to understand the cost, the benefits, the alternatives, the impact on residents, the availability of funding and whether the project fits within the Village's strategic priorities.

But I would also look beyond the initial construction cost. Every new municipal asset comes with an ongoing cost to operate, maintain, repair and eventually replace it. I would want to know what that cost will be, how it will be funded and who will ultimately pay for it.

Debt financing is another important consideration. The cost of borrowing can significantly increase the overall cost of a project, so the decision needs to consider not only what something costs to build today, but what it will cost taxpayers over the life of the asset.

I would also ask whether we have the capacity to deliver and properly manage the project.

My career with Rogers involved managing significant budgets, capital projects, operations and complex initiatives. That experience taught me that approving a project is only the beginning. You need a clear plan, appropriate resources, accountability and oversight to actually deliver the result.

My experience at the Council table has reinforced that lesson.

Taxpayers deserve to know what we're building, why we're building it, what it will cost to build and sustain, and who is responsible for delivering it.

09

If you received a $1 million grant to use for the Village any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

My answer to this question has also evolved.

In 2018, I suggested several possibilities, including trail improvements, traffic calming, improved business signage and preservation of Point Edward's history. I also emphasized that the ongoing operating costs of any project needed to be considered.

I still believe that principle is extremely important.

If we received $1 million today, I wouldn't decide where to spend it before understanding what opportunities exist. I would first look at the Village's strategic priorities and consult with staff and residents.

I would want to find an investment that provides a long-term community benefit, supports our waterfront or commercial areas, improves quality of life or helps attract additional investment — while avoiding a significant new ongoing operating burden.

I would also look at whether the money could be used to leverage other government or private-sector investment.

The best use of a $1-million grant might not be a $1-million project.

It might be using that money to unlock a much larger investment.

The objective shouldn't be to spend the money. It should be to make the money work for Point Edward.

02

What's more important for our village right now: building new homes and commercial space or rehabbing/expanding/better utilizing our existing homes and storefronts?

I don't think it has to be an either/or decision.

Point Edward has a very limited land base, so we need to be thoughtful about how we use every property. We should encourage appropriate new residential and commercial development while also working to bring vacant and underutilized properties back into productive use.

One of the things I have learned is that development takes more than simply having available land. It requires investment, planning, cooperation and a municipality that is prepared to work with property owners and developers.

We also have to protect the character of Point Edward. In 2018, I expressed concerns about losing green space and emphasized the importance of thoughtful growth. I still believe that, but I now have a much better understanding of the competing priorities and the realities involved in municipal development.

The former Holmes Foundry property is one example where my persistent attention to property standards and getting deteriorating buildings removed helped create the opportunity for something better. I continue to support redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties in a way that strengthens our tax base while respecting our community.

We need growth — but we need the right growth.

04

Some people in our community say that we have traffic problems. What do you think? How would you mitigate those concerns or change the situation?

Yes, I believe we have traffic issues that deserve attention, but they aren't all the same problem.

We have residential traffic, visitors, events, commercial vehicles, trucks, border traffic and seasonal congestion. We also have streets that were designed for a different era and now serve a different purpose.

I have taken a lead role in advancing traffic-calming initiatives in the Village, including new pedestrian crosswalks, improved pavement markings and lane reductions designed to slow traffic and make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

These changes have made a difference. Our streets are safer today than they were eight years ago, but there is still more work to be done.

Looking ahead, I would like to see us continue investing in multi-use paths and other separated pedestrian and cycling routes wherever practical, creating greater separation between people walking or cycling and vehicle traffic. This can improve safety while also making our waterfront, trails and neighbourhoods more accessible.

My approach has been to look at the design and use of our streets, listen to residents, consider the available evidence and work toward practical solutions rather than simply relying on lower posted speed limits and enforcement.

As Mayor, I would continue that work — identifying problem areas, looking at what is working, engaging the appropriate technical and safety experts and making improvements where they are needed.

Traffic calming isn't about making it difficult to get around Point Edward. It's about making our streets safer and ensuring they work for the people who live here.

06

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our Village?

This was one of the reasons I wanted to serve on Council in the first place, and it remains important to me.

In 2018, I talked about creating committees and finding more ways for residents to participate in Village activities and decision-making. I still believe residents should have opportunities to contribute, but my experience has taught me that engagement needs to have a purpose.

Good public engagement means giving residents enough information to understand an issue, providing meaningful opportunities to provide input, listening to what they have to say and then explaining how that input was considered.

Communication also needs to continue after a decision is made.

Residents shouldn't have to search through agendas and minutes to understand what their municipal government is doing. We need timely, accessible communication through the Village website, email, social media, public meetings and direct engagement.

As Mayor, I would make transparency and communication a priority.

And I believe the Mayor has an important role in making sure residents feel they can approach their municipal government — whether they agree with a decision or not.

08

If elected, what three steps would you take to put our village on a firmer financial footing?

This is probably the question where my answer has changed the most since 2018.

In 2018, I openly acknowledged that I was still learning about the Village's financial position. I was concerned about our reliance on casino revenues and wanted to understand our financial situation before developing a plan.

Eight years later, I have a much better understanding of municipal finance and the pressures facing Point Edward.

My three priorities would be:

1. Strengthen long-term financial planning.

We need to look beyond the annual budget and understand the long-term financial impact of infrastructure, staffing, equipment and other commitments.

2. Strengthen project oversight.

Major projects need clear budgets, timelines, responsibilities and reporting. We need to identify problems early and address them before they become more expensive.

3. Grow the tax base responsibly.

We cannot simply rely on existing taxpayers to carry increasing costs. We need to encourage appropriate development, investment and redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties.

Financial responsibility isn't just about controlling spending.

It is about managing costs, planning ahead and creating opportunities to grow the revenue base.

10

What neighbourhood do you live in? Why? Where are your favourite places to spend time in our Village?

Point Edward is more than where I live — it is home.

In 2018, I wrote about living near McCrae Park in a home built on property that had belonged to my wife's family for decades. I talked about walking our dogs, using the trails, riding our bikes and enjoying the waterfront.

Eight years later, much of that hasn't changed.

We still enjoy the trails, waterfront, parks and the many places that make Point Edward special. But my connection to the Village has grown considerably through my service to the community.

I've had the privilege of serving Point Edward through Council and local volunteer roles with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, minor hockey and veterans' organizations. I have also served other communities through Victim Services, Auxiliary Police, the Red Cross, United Way and other organizations.

Those experiences have broadened my perspective and strengthened my commitment to community service.

But the best thing about Point Edward remains the people.

It is a community where you can walk down the street and know your neighbours, watch families grow, see volunteers come together and feel connected to the place you call home.

That is why I want to be Mayor.

Point Edward isn't just where I live. It is home.