The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

rwww.durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, OCTOBER 1,2003 PAGE 7 The race for a Clarington regional councillor seat p ! j r ~ 1 i . f 1 . k 4, L 1 1 ... j 1 V-i V*;, j Jim Charlie Arnot Schell Trim Wotten Jim Schell wants to see Hwy. 407 through to 115/35 Smf. n i.v mwff- FL'v .*•-* i'^.i> çÉàïM 4 i, W X K ' j ' Vi 7 % t,;. •*: Wi ||| ~~ ■: W i ■ '..J:,; \ SWr-i ' 1 1 'V- jSbi . . ■ , .1. ' „-n. 1 jp ■ \ V' jlLlJîL Jim Schell has been acclaimed as the Ward 1 and 2 regional councillor. councillor. He believes Clarington should remain as part of the Greater Toronto Area. The Statesman has asked the three regional councillor candidates 10 questions on issues that will have to he addressed in the coming term of office. office. Watch for their responses on Wednesdays leading up to the Nov. 10 municipal election. Clarington elects two regional councillors, one each for Wards 1 and 2, and Wards 3 and 4. Jim Schell has been acclaimed. Do you feel it's important to extend extend Hwy. 407 all the way to Hwy. 35/115? I think it's important to complete Hwy. 407 to Hwy. 115/35 in principle. principle. It's important to determine the best route with the least impact on our agricultural lands and our environmentally environmentally sensitive areas and that the entire process from beginning until completion is done in consultation with Clarington staff. The current need for the Courticc to Hwy. 115/35 leg of the highway has not been demonstrated in the short term, however, however, we cannot have the highway simply end in Courtice and put all the " Peterborough/Kawartha/Ottawa traf- J fic on our local rural roads. Are you in favour of widening -'Taunton Road to four lanes (plus / turning lanes) all the way from the i Oshawa-Clarington border to Hwy. " 35/115? Should Clarington taxpayers taxpayers share the cost with the Region for such a project if it means it will be constructed much sooner? I am definitely in favour of widening widening Taunton Road to four lanes all,the way through Clarington to Hwy. 115/35. Taunton Road has become a "major route to points west of Claring- l'ton and would assume a greater portion portion of the traffic from north and east /[Clarington if it were four lanes. It l,)nay alleviate the need for the exten- ( sion of 407 to 115/35 as well. I don't ■think Clarington taxpayers should have' to pay additional taxes to hurry up the project. I believe we already pay our fair share of Regional taxes and 1 believe the Region should make this a priority as a major through road rfor Durham Region. Does Clarington belong in Durham and the G TA or would you ' rather see the Municipality linked 1 to Northumberland County? a I believe Clarington belongs in the V GTA. As a growing community (now ■80,000) we have much more in com- v mon with our neighbours to the west than those to the east. With significant residential growth planned over the next five to 10 years, we will need in- "dustrial/commercial/institutional .. growth to provide services, jobs and . tax revenue to remain a balanced - ,community and I think we have better ■-.opportunities within the GTA than , from the outside to accomplish this .■balance. • i VVImt measures are necessary to improve public transit in Clarington Clarington and to link the municipality with the rest of the region? To improve transit in Clarington, we need to provide a north/south route in Courtice and we need to begin providing shelters at bus stops to ensure riders have the opportunity to utilise the system in all types of weather. The important thing is to build our transit system slowly and with time to analyze our needs thoroughly thoroughly so we aren't causing any unnecessary unnecessary burden on our tax base. Some of the towns and villages in Clarington believe they don't get a fair shake when it conies to services and the spending of taxpayers' money. How can you assure all taxpayers taxpayers are treated equally? I believe all Clarington taxpayers are treated equally in the spending of taxpayers' money. We provide services services where they are most needed and where the largest number of people can access them as all municipalities do. We are in the process of building new sports facilities and district parks throughout the municipality and all our communities will be included in this wave. We now will have transit to all four of our largest communities. Has Clarington properly developed developed ils waterfront? What would you do to encourage more - or less - development? Clarington's waterfront had been neglected by the Municipality for many years, however, in recent years Clarington has begun to acquire lake- front properties so at some future date we can have a beach similar to Cobourg's beach and Lakcvicw Park in Oshawa. During the past two terms of council, developing the lake fro til has become a priority, however we must proceed as we can afford to purchase purchase the land. What measures will you take to try to keep Clarington's delicate rural-urban balance in place for years to come? Through the Official Plan review, which will be done during the next term of council, 1 will be pressing to keep the urban boundaries the same as they are and to encourage infilling within our urban areas. Clarington has an abundance of residential/commercial/industrial/institutional residential/commercial/industrial/institutional lands already already designated for development and I will not condone any development that takes away good farm land. Should Clarington be trying to make a bigger splash on the international international stage? Win or lose, can the International Thermonuclear Experimental Experimental Reactor (ITER) bid be the start of better things? I believe.that through the bidding process, Clarington has already made a significant splash on the international international stage. Anyone, around the world, who has been involved in any way with the ITER bid already knows where Clarington is and some of the great things we have to offer. Win or loose, I think we can cash in on this recognition by attracting business to our municipality. I'm confident we will win this project and the impact on Clarington will be positive and put us on the international stage in a huge way. Would you be willing to go ahead with a major sports/entertainment complex if Oshawa does not proceed proceed with its fledgling plans? I would certainly be interested in listening to any proposal that would benefit the citizens of Clarington. A sports/entertainment complex like the one being proposed in Oshawa would be a great asset in Clarington provided provided it would not be a huge tax burden to our community. I would seek opportunities opportunities to provide as much private money support for the project as is available and then decide if it was financially financially acceptable to our taxpayers. Why should Clarington voters choose you on Nov. 10? I believe voters should choose me on Nov. 10 because I have a proven track record over the past six years on council for making informed decisions decisions based on research, public input and what I deem is the best possible course for the Municipality of Clarington Clarington and Durham Region. I have lived in the Municipality for 31 years. I have been employed as a businessman businessman in Clarington for 29 years and I have been involved in volunteer service service work for more than 30 years. I believe I bring a good balance and understanding understanding of our community to the council table which allows me to make good decisions based on a firm knowledge of the needs of the community. community. Schell acclaimed as regional councillor Jim Schell will spend another three years on Clarington council. The two-term councillor, who served in a local capacity in his first term and made the jump to Ward 1 and 2 regional councillor in the last election, is unopposed in his third try. Mr. Schell, a 31-year resident of Clarington, has worked for St. Marys Cement Company in Bowmanville for 29 years. The married father of four is currently president of Bowmanville's Rotary Club, and past district governor governor and life member with the Kinsmen Kinsmen Association. Mr. Schell chairs both the Clarington Clarington healthy communities committee and planning department. He is past- chairman of the fire department, and past-treasurer of St. John's Church in Bowmanville. As well, he is a member member of the Regional Planning committee, committee, Regional Agricultural Advisory committee, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178, Clarington Board of Trade, Solina Hall Board, and a number number of other committees and organizations. organizations. "1 am running for this regional position position because 1 believe I have the experience experience to make good, informed decisions decisions for the people of Clarington," says Mr. Schell. "1 have enjoyed the last six years on council and 1 feel that the experience that I have gained during during this time, combined with my business business experience and my involvement with many local volunteer groups will bring a balanced approach to the needs of the municipality." Short slate of Clarington candidates as three positions acclaimed CLARINGTON - Municipal clerk Patti Barrie says she hopes the relatively short list of candidates for this year's municipal election points to a general satisfaction satisfaction in how things have been run over the past three years. Municipally, three candidates - Ward 1 and 2 Regional Councillor Jim Schell, Ward 3 Local Councillor Pat Pin- gle, and. Ward 4 Local Councillor Gord Robinson - have all been acclaimed to their positions, after no other candidates came out to challenge challenge prior to last Friday's registration registration deadline. As well, only two candidates came forward to fill the two Clarington Clarington positions on the Peterborough Victoria Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. Granville Anderson and George Ashe will join PVNC after the Nov. 10 election. "That's the most acclamations I've had since 1988," says Ms. Barrie, noting there's no obvious specific reason for the drop. "I'm hoping it's that people are satisfied with the representation they have on council," she says. On the mayoral slate this year is incumbent John Mutton, as well as Orono resident Richard Ward. Running for Regional Councillor in Wards 3 and 4 are incumbent Charlie Trim and Arnot Wotten. In Ward 1, where longtime Local Councillor Jane Rowe has opted out of the race, several candidates have added their names to the list. Adrian Foster, Jim Vinson, Suzanne Elston, Oudit Rai and Gail Syme are all vying for the position. Locally in Ward 2, incumbent Don MacArthur and Joseph Bur- chowycz will compete for the seat. The longest slate of candidates this time around in Clarington is for the two positions available on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Incumbent Nancy Coffin is joined on the ballot by Cathy Abraham, Karen Hills, David Sanders, Colin Argyle, Brian Vanstone, and Steven Cooke. "The school board is very high," says Ms. Barrie. "I don't recall having having that many people running in one board before." No candidate has come forward for the trustee position for the French Catholic separate school board, prompting the re-opening of nominations for today only. Pickering resident Sylvia Landry has put her name forward for the trustee position on the French public board. Gord Robinson Acclaimed. Pat Pingle Acclaimed. Transportation and transit are key issues Integrated service to help get Clarington residents around should be a priority BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - From moving residents around Clarington to gelling them in and out of the region, transportation transportation will he an issue for the new council alter the Nov. 10 municipal election, And finding a way to provide an integrated integrated transit service to help get Clarington residents around should he a priority, say both a business leader and a local environ- j I mentalisl. "Transit has to be iff* ^jr seen as an essential ;,j T service, as opposed to W .r»- just a nice frill to ■M, eg- have," says local envi- 'ÆP ji ronmentalis! and ■ A farmer Linda Gasser, j/j She says local politicians politicians should he lobbying lobbying both the federal and provincial governments governments to get long-term stable funding for the service, Incorporating transit into plans for Linda Gasser new development is extremely important, important, she notes. "Municipal politicians politicians have to take a close look at transit and land use in concert, concert, and set long-term goals, and set funding aside for transit," she says, noting she feels there is a real need to "concentrate growth within the urban area, and plan urban areas to accommodate transit transit from the gel-go." Determining where new roads go, or what existing roads can he upgrail- Ron Hooper cd, is also a priority, says Clarington Board of Trade president Ron Hooper. Having the 407 extend further into Durham is necessary, says Mr. Hooper, Hooper, though he won't say how far into the Region he'd like to see it built. "There's a need for it to come through to Durham Region. Now, how far it goes, whether it should go to (Hwy.) 115, 1 don't know," says Mr. Hooper. The Province is currently in the midst of an environmental assessment assessment to determine where and how far the toll highway should be extended. Expanding Taunton Road to four lanes might also be a good idea to help Clarington residents get through and out of the area, says Mr, Hooper. "But we also have to look at other means of transportation," says Mr. Hooper, noting he'd like to see "some sort of integrated transportation system system as far as transit goes" to allow passengers passengers to ride both in Clarington and neighbouring municipalities. Transit and transportation are both important issues municipally as the election approaches, says Ms. Gasser. "Municipally, 1 think, the candidates candidates who identify transportation and public transit as quality of life issues will get my attention," she says, "Municipal "Municipal politicians have to embrace transit as an essential service that needs to he available to their residents." residents."