Thanks!

Thanks so much to all who voted for me and supported my campaign for a better Region!

I appreciate you standing up for Pelham and for wanting to improve Niagara together.
Congratulations and best wishes to the new Regional Councillor-elect. Congratulations, as well, to the new Mayor-elect and Town-Councillors-elect.

When my family and I decided this summer that I would not run again as Mayor, we knew that the time would come for me to pass the gavel to a new Mayor. I am happy to offer any assistance I can provide between now and the start of the new term (on December 1) to help with a smooth transition to the new Town Council term and the new Regional Council term.

It has been my honour and pleasure to work together with the Councillors, Town staff, and the community and to serve as your Mayor over the last 12 years. Together we have achieved great things and helped our community grow and become stronger.

Working together we revitalized our Downtowns, rebuilt our playgrounds, expanded our library, rebuilt our pool, built two new Fire Halls, fixed up our roads, added +20 kms sidewalks and trails, and invested in infrastructure that helps residents and businesses prosper. This Fall officially opened Pelham’s new Community Centre – on time and under budget. The Centre is the place for people of all ages to gather, celebrate, and make “memories that matter.”

I’ve also served on Regional Council – standing up for Pelham to renew Regional roads and bridges, fix our long term care home, construct a new dog park, and to keep taxes low by chairing the Region’s $1 billion budget, and to promote incentives for industrial and business growth.
I stood up at the Region against the wasting of tax dollars with cost overruns and Councillor expenses, against the rigged hiring of the CAO, and I’ve worked for reform of the NPCA.

I ran to bring back integrity to the Region and the NPCA, to move Niagara’s economy forward, and to create a more compassionate society. I continue to believe in the promise of Niagara and I hope to continue to play a role in achieving this future together.

Thanks, again, for your support and encouragement!

Proven Leadership & Experience for A Better Region

Now more than ever, our Region needs proven leaders.

We are at a critical turning point in Niagara. We have the opportunity to reset our Regional Council and restore the reputation of the Niagara Peninsula that has been tarnished by scandals and controversies at the Region and NPCA. In order to do this, we require proven leaders, with a plan and clear vision for bringing about positive change.

As both Mayor and Regional Councillor for the last 12 years, I have demonstrated how I have stood up for Pelham and helped lead positive change in our community and across the Region. I chaired the Region’s $1 billion budget for four years (2011-2014) – approving increases 20% less than inflation and 4% lower than this current term of Council. I worked to improve Regional infrastructure and parks in Pelham – including servicing and reconstruction of Rice Road, the Regional Road 20 expansion, the replacement of O’Reilly’s Bridge, and the construction of the Centre Street Dog Park. I championed protection of the Fonthill Kame and led the Town's and Region's efforts for the removal of the contaminated “Fenwick Berm.” I also worked against the efforts by the NPCA to destroy age-old wetlands and I voted against all urban boundary expansion proposals.

Serving on all four “standing committees” and many other subcommittees, I also developed a complete understanding of our Regional government system and structure – knowledge and experience that will be crucial, particularly with a new Mayor and new Regional Councillors.
To lay the foundation for an effective and stable regional government moving forward, representatives with demonstrated leadership and Council experience will be a huge asset. I will help provide guidance, share knowledge and ultimately, allow our Regional Government to help make Niagara as successful as possible.

Pelham is positioned to lead by example at the Region. We are a growing community that has succeeded in attracting investment, developing plans for smart growth within our urban boundaries, protecting our environmental features, supporting our senior populations and investing in quality-of-life benefits in a sustainable way.

Working together, we have brought about positive change that is responsible, sustainable and reflective of our population.

If elected to serve Pelham as Regional Councillor, I will bring my proven experience leading positive change in Pelham to the Region. I would be honoured to offer leadership and knowledge to a new Regional Council so that we may truly bring integrity back to the Region and build a more prosperous and compassionate Niagara.

I see an exciting future for Pelham and I believe in the promise of Niagara! With your support today, we can continue to build that exciting future and fulfill that promise for the entire Niagara Peninsula.