Bob Gordon's choices and reasons
The ECG sponsored All Candidates Night of September 30, 2014 is over and as promised I have a list of candidates I will personally vote for in the upcoming election. As this is my “personal” social media page anyone that disagrees with my choices is free to delete the remarks. That is different than submitting it for print in any local publication or even putting the opinions into a flyer that can be distributed by mail or as in insert in a local publication. Here are my choices in the form of an article.
The results of the Espanola Citizen Group all candidates’ night presentation at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on September 30, 2014 left voters a lot of choices since twelve of the thirteen candidates for council were in attendance along with all three mayoralty hopefuls. Chris Gillis did not attend sending a resume read by Moderator Richard Foucault.
Foucault was a good choice for moderator and kept the entire two and a half hour presentation consisting of candidate statements questions and answers completely under control. Richard much like his father former Espanola Mayor Leo proved to be a true professional at handling the function. Living at his Lang Lake home outside Espanola Town borders, Richard was neutral and did not show the least bit if favoritism. The crowd was estimated to be in the two hundred taxpayer range and some claimed three times the number of citizens that attended the Lacloche Foothills Chamber of Commerce presentation by candidates last week.
The candidates for mayor were a conundrum of puzzlement leading to confusion for voters looking for a choice based on more than popularity. Before candidates night my choice for mayor was Jill Beer until the school teacher/2010-2014 councillor and Deputy Mayor display (in at least my opinion) an “I know best “, superiority attitude based on an admission that council’s direction and programs were unquestionable and all decisions were correct regardless of other opinions. I have changed my mind and will not vote for Jill Beer.
Jeff Lapierre seemed to be simply in the race to make what he expressed as positive changes without any follow up direction of how the changes would happen. He did promise to pursue building a new Firehall at all costs. Jeff did not have a platform to outline the issues and programs he would try convincing council to implement.
Ron Piche promised to work with a group of council candidates seeking election as a slate if those people were chosen by voters. He opposed virtually everything the present council has initiated or proposed over the past five years including the building rather than renovating the present Firehall and is a strong advocate for asking for an OPP service costing. Ron Piche definitely has an agenda for putting citizens first if elected. Ron lacks council experience although well versed in issues, projects and programs council has been dealing with for the past four years. Ron gained that knowledge from attending virtually every public meeting of council and most of its committees. He will probably make the best mayor among current contenders if supported by a strong knowledgeable council. There would undoubtedly be major problems if he had to work with a majority of reelected current council members.
Listening to the presentations for mayor left at least some voters in a quandary about voting for a mayor at all. One observation was that ballot should have a choice of “none of the above”. Since not voting for mayor is unacceptable Ron Piche is my choice at least at the time of this writing.
COUNCIL CANDIDATES
The presentations by candidates for council offered a great many choices. The strongest and crowd favourites, if applause is an indication, in no particular order except alphabetical, were Ken Duplessis, Ron Duplessis, Bill Foster, Rob Sinclair and Bob Yocom.
Among councillors seeking reelection all three indicated feeling council’s progress over the past four years was the right direction for taxpayers. Not one of the candidates indicated reelection to council would offer less spending or tax relief for property owners. All insisted the Firehall must be rebuilt and expanded. There were some remarks quoted attributed to provincial government officials related to what appeared to be legislation requiring immediately changes to the firefighting equipment and structure to create an ideal situation for fire fighter accommodation, comfort and training. Renovating for expansion seems to be far down the list of priorities of most council member seeking reelection. Cost was not a concern since senior council member Jack McMillan insisted repeatedly during sometimes heated exchanges with other candidates that finding money wasn’t a problem. That, at least according to McMillan’s figures, is true now that the province interceded on the debt the town incurred in the Domtar assessment appeals. According To McMillan’s forecast in his flyers it would only add approximately $30.00 per household annually. Of course that does not take into effect future pressure for added property taxation for infrastructure, employee wages, benefits and inevitable equipment replacement plus most obviously, hydro electric and spiraling sewer and water costs to taxpayers. That is only the tip of the added expenses that will be faced over the next four years as traditional provincial grants that offset previous tax increases become less available.
The other issue that was front and center was OPP costing with respect to whether or not to keep the present Espanola Police Service or asked OPP to take over policing cost. For the most part those seeking new council seats wanted the option of hearing the potential of OPP service while most of those seeking reelection felt the added cost to taxpayers of having an Espanola Police Service was unquestionable and almost all rejected even asking for a free OPP assessment. Among new council candidates Dawn Lalonde appeared to side with council member Jack McMillan, Tim Howard and mayoralty candidate Jill Beer seeking reelection and at first also advocated dismissing an OPP costing. Almost every candidate decided maybe OPP costing might be acceptable when the mood of the audience was observed. Councillor for reelection Stewart Meikleham did not seem to be in favour of rejecting the free OPP costing from the beginning of the discussion.
Recreation, sewer and water pipe replacement needs, brown water problems, were other topics that surfaced leading to some vague answers from present council members with regard to solutions. Recreation which surfaced for discussion was offset as a subject of major concern by most if not all candidates as the Firehall and OPP issues took precedence with almost every candidate. The one million plus annual deficit incurred by the recreation department due in a large part to operating Espanola’s widely envied recreation complex was not even mentioned.
Richard Foucault read a list of over a dozen questions received by Email or Facebook that each candidate could answer within strict time limits. Some of the questions were interesting but none of the issues resulted in more than a few minutes of conversation.
A lineup of about a dozen or more people asked candidates questions on a variety of issues and situations but did not spark a great deal of candidate interchange. Richard Foucault did an excellent job of controlling anyone trying to make a point without asking a question which was the criteria for addressing candidates.
My choices for council based on observations since the campaign began and the ECG candidate’s presentations are at this point:
Mayor Ron Piche
Councillors: Bob Yokom, Bill Foster, Ron Duplessis, Rob Sinclair, Ken Duplessis, and possibly Ray Dufour.
My reason for selection Ron Piche is outlined earlier.
Bob Yocom in my opinion is one of the best candidates for council with a good business background, research ability only comparable to that of Bill Foster and a strong sense of family and community. He has kept most people with social media contact informed and aware of all council issues with detailed reports after every meeting promising to continue to do so as much as humanly possible once elected.
Bill Foster is a professional and as indicated in the past, researcher extraordinaire. He looks into situations and issues with the skill of a professional manager and can be depended upon to research every aspect of every project and program council might consider in the future. Bill’s dedication and integrity were displayed during the All Candidates evening by his attendance less than a week after major hip surgery. As a hip surgery recipient in 2010 I can attest to the fact Bill Foster was probably uncomfortable and hoping the session would not last too long.
Ron Duplessis has been a strong council member in my opinion throughout the nine years previously served on council. He is not a person that goes along with any issue for the sake of popularity. He always studied every issue and made his point during council discussions. Although a strong representative he is not above making concessions if necessary to allow the best interest of the taxpayer to benefit.
Rob Sinclair is the sleeper among candidates. I have known Rob for years and followed his progress overcoming personal and family situations that might have overtaken a person with less resolve. Rob was a good council member in the past displaying a real apathy for the taxpayer and always supporting the side that benefitted the property and business owner community interests. Rob is a successful business executive with a lot of knowledge that could change the direction of council making it more businesslike rather than civil service oriented and for that reason alone will be a valued asset on council.
Ken Duplessis is a man I do not know especially well. His background in labour union points to someone needed among the new councillors that will be elected later in October. Harmonious labour negotiations are critical to the well being of any organization whether in the business or service sector. A man with experience in negotiating with or for unions usually adds strength of being able to balance situations of dispute in most circumstances. I am inclined to support Ken since in my past as a labour and conciliation officer with the Ontario Ministry of Labour before arriving in Espanola, I am fully aware the ability to negotiate resolves most conflict situations.
Ray Dufour is another man I have had little contact with but feel from his background as a planner, program implementer and businessman with strong family support that he would make a good council member. He would need to go through a learning curve, as will all the new councillors, since the legislation that must be followed takes a great deal of learning to become skillful and effective. I am basing Ray’s choice on the resume and presentation on candidate’s night.
Those are my choices at this point although I feel Heather Dougon is a viable alternative. Council actually needs more female representation and Heather would be an ideal candidate with her community oriented background, enthusiasm for the position of councillor and ability to manage people as her Tim Horton employment indicates.
The results of the Espanola Citizen Group all candidates’ night presentation at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on September 30, 2014 left voters a lot of choices since twelve of the thirteen candidates for council were in attendance along with all three mayoralty hopefuls. Chris Gillis did not attend sending a resume read by Moderator Richard Foucault.
Foucault was a good choice for moderator and kept the entire two and a half hour presentation consisting of candidate statements questions and answers completely under control. Richard much like his father former Espanola Mayor Leo proved to be a true professional at handling the function. Living at his Lang Lake home outside Espanola Town borders, Richard was neutral and did not show the least bit if favoritism. The crowd was estimated to be in the two hundred taxpayer range and some claimed three times the number of citizens that attended the Lacloche Foothills Chamber of Commerce presentation by candidates last week.
The candidates for mayor were a conundrum of puzzlement leading to confusion for voters looking for a choice based on more than popularity. Before candidates night my choice for mayor was Jill Beer until the school teacher/2010-2014 councillor and Deputy Mayor display (in at least my opinion) an “I know best “, superiority attitude based on an admission that council’s direction and programs were unquestionable and all decisions were correct regardless of other opinions. I have changed my mind and will not vote for Jill Beer.
Jeff Lapierre seemed to be simply in the race to make what he expressed as positive changes without any follow up direction of how the changes would happen. He did promise to pursue building a new Firehall at all costs. Jeff did not have a platform to outline the issues and programs he would try convincing council to implement.
Ron Piche promised to work with a group of council candidates seeking election as a slate if those people were chosen by voters. He opposed virtually everything the present council has initiated or proposed over the past five years including the building rather than renovating the present Firehall and is a strong advocate for asking for an OPP service costing. Ron Piche definitely has an agenda for putting citizens first if elected. Ron lacks council experience although well versed in issues, projects and programs council has been dealing with for the past four years. Ron gained that knowledge from attending virtually every public meeting of council and most of its committees. He will probably make the best mayor among current contenders if supported by a strong knowledgeable council. There would undoubtedly be major problems if he had to work with a majority of reelected current council members.
Listening to the presentations for mayor left at least some voters in a quandary about voting for a mayor at all. One observation was that ballot should have a choice of “none of the above”. Since not voting for mayor is unacceptable Ron Piche is my choice at least at the time of this writing.
COUNCIL CANDIDATES
The presentations by candidates for council offered a great many choices. The strongest and crowd favourites, if applause is an indication, in no particular order except alphabetical, were Ken Duplessis, Ron Duplessis, Bill Foster, Rob Sinclair and Bob Yocom.
Among councillors seeking reelection all three indicated feeling council’s progress over the past four years was the right direction for taxpayers. Not one of the candidates indicated reelection to council would offer less spending or tax relief for property owners. All insisted the Firehall must be rebuilt and expanded. There were some remarks quoted attributed to provincial government officials related to what appeared to be legislation requiring immediately changes to the firefighting equipment and structure to create an ideal situation for fire fighter accommodation, comfort and training. Renovating for expansion seems to be far down the list of priorities of most council member seeking reelection. Cost was not a concern since senior council member Jack McMillan insisted repeatedly during sometimes heated exchanges with other candidates that finding money wasn’t a problem. That, at least according to McMillan’s figures, is true now that the province interceded on the debt the town incurred in the Domtar assessment appeals. According To McMillan’s forecast in his flyers it would only add approximately $30.00 per household annually. Of course that does not take into effect future pressure for added property taxation for infrastructure, employee wages, benefits and inevitable equipment replacement plus most obviously, hydro electric and spiraling sewer and water costs to taxpayers. That is only the tip of the added expenses that will be faced over the next four years as traditional provincial grants that offset previous tax increases become less available.
The other issue that was front and center was OPP costing with respect to whether or not to keep the present Espanola Police Service or asked OPP to take over policing cost. For the most part those seeking new council seats wanted the option of hearing the potential of OPP service while most of those seeking reelection felt the added cost to taxpayers of having an Espanola Police Service was unquestionable and almost all rejected even asking for a free OPP assessment. Among new council candidates Dawn Lalonde appeared to side with council member Jack McMillan, Tim Howard and mayoralty candidate Jill Beer seeking reelection and at first also advocated dismissing an OPP costing. Almost every candidate decided maybe OPP costing might be acceptable when the mood of the audience was observed. Councillor for reelection Stewart Meikleham did not seem to be in favour of rejecting the free OPP costing from the beginning of the discussion.
Recreation, sewer and water pipe replacement needs, brown water problems, were other topics that surfaced leading to some vague answers from present council members with regard to solutions. Recreation which surfaced for discussion was offset as a subject of major concern by most if not all candidates as the Firehall and OPP issues took precedence with almost every candidate. The one million plus annual deficit incurred by the recreation department due in a large part to operating Espanola’s widely envied recreation complex was not even mentioned.
Richard Foucault read a list of over a dozen questions received by Email or Facebook that each candidate could answer within strict time limits. Some of the questions were interesting but none of the issues resulted in more than a few minutes of conversation.
A lineup of about a dozen or more people asked candidates questions on a variety of issues and situations but did not spark a great deal of candidate interchange. Richard Foucault did an excellent job of controlling anyone trying to make a point without asking a question which was the criteria for addressing candidates.
My choices for council based on observations since the campaign began and the ECG candidate’s presentations are at this point:
Mayor Ron Piche
Councillors: Bob Yokom, Bill Foster, Ron Duplessis, Rob Sinclair, Ken Duplessis, and possibly Ray Dufour.
My reason for selection Ron Piche is outlined earlier.
Bob Yocom in my opinion is one of the best candidates for council with a good business background, research ability only comparable to that of Bill Foster and a strong sense of family and community. He has kept most people with social media contact informed and aware of all council issues with detailed reports after every meeting promising to continue to do so as much as humanly possible once elected.
Bill Foster is a professional and as indicated in the past, researcher extraordinaire. He looks into situations and issues with the skill of a professional manager and can be depended upon to research every aspect of every project and program council might consider in the future. Bill’s dedication and integrity were displayed during the All Candidates evening by his attendance less than a week after major hip surgery. As a hip surgery recipient in 2010 I can attest to the fact Bill Foster was probably uncomfortable and hoping the session would not last too long.
Ron Duplessis has been a strong council member in my opinion throughout the nine years previously served on council. He is not a person that goes along with any issue for the sake of popularity. He always studied every issue and made his point during council discussions. Although a strong representative he is not above making concessions if necessary to allow the best interest of the taxpayer to benefit.
Rob Sinclair is the sleeper among candidates. I have known Rob for years and followed his progress overcoming personal and family situations that might have overtaken a person with less resolve. Rob was a good council member in the past displaying a real apathy for the taxpayer and always supporting the side that benefitted the property and business owner community interests. Rob is a successful business executive with a lot of knowledge that could change the direction of council making it more businesslike rather than civil service oriented and for that reason alone will be a valued asset on council.
Ken Duplessis is a man I do not know especially well. His background in labour union points to someone needed among the new councillors that will be elected later in October. Harmonious labour negotiations are critical to the well being of any organization whether in the business or service sector. A man with experience in negotiating with or for unions usually adds strength of being able to balance situations of dispute in most circumstances. I am inclined to support Ken since in my past as a labour and conciliation officer with the Ontario Ministry of Labour before arriving in Espanola, I am fully aware the ability to negotiate resolves most conflict situations.
Ray Dufour is another man I have had little contact with but feel from his background as a planner, program implementer and businessman with strong family support that he would make a good council member. He would need to go through a learning curve, as will all the new councillors, since the legislation that must be followed takes a great deal of learning to become skillful and effective. I am basing Ray’s choice on the resume and presentation on candidate’s night.
Those are my choices at this point although I feel Heather Dougon is a viable alternative. Council actually needs more female representation and Heather would be an ideal candidate with her community oriented background, enthusiasm for the position of councillor and ability to manage people as her Tim Horton employment indicates.
