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13| W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,O ctober 18,2018 w aterloochronicle.ca In advance of the munici- pal election, we've asked the candidates for Waterloo re- presentation on regional council one simple question: Why should the public vote for you? In this time of change at the provincial and regional levels, it is important to have experi- enced and knowledgeable leadership. I am proud of my record. I am the Chair of the Re- gion's Licensing and Hearing committee and successfully led council and the industry through the process of updat- ing the bylaw for taxis and Ub- er. A contentious issue was a fair and smooth process. I personally follow up on people's concerns on social media, email and phone calls. I meet face to face. I care. I champion Regional transpar- ency. I work on numerous com- mittees including, the Crime Prevention Council and Bud- get. I am the Chair of the Em- ployment and Income Support Advisory Committee. A frequent user of public transit as well as a car driver, I am proud of my role in the ex- pansion of the bus system and the introduction of the Ion. Roundabouts and road im- provements make driving saf- er and easier. Bike lanes and sidewalks mean more options. The Region has racked up a triple A rating from Moody's every year I have been on council. I championed the country- side line and urban intensifi- cation to protect our valuable farmland. As Chair of the GRCA, I worked to keep the Grand a world class river. Here are a few new issues for the next term. Climate Change. We need concrete actions to protect our homes. The cities and the Region have pledged to reduce emissions by 80%. Cycling As a teen, I cycled safely all over Waterloo. My older daughter was hit by a truck. We need segregated bike lanes to keep cyclists safe Affordable Housing A booming economy means more expensive hous- ing. We must bring together developers, experts, and citi- zens create new ideas. The Re- gion is housing the homeless with needed supports. Opioids The Regional Integrated Drug Strategy has 4 pillars: Prevention, harm reduction, rehabilitation and recovery, enforcement and justice. It is not just about Safe Consump- tion Sites. Economic Development The Ion created 2.1 billion dollars of development includ- ing at Northfield. We need an Aerospace Industrial Park I work hard. I lead and I care. WATERLOO REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE: JANE MITCHELL Jane Mitchell MUNICIPAL ELECTION In advance of the munici- pal election, we've asked the candidates for Waterloo re- presentation on regional council one simple question: Why should the public vote for you? I was born and raised in Waterloo Region and success- fully owned and operated Erb &Good Family Funeral Home for 30 years where I continue to work part time. I have been an active volunteer in the com- munity for all of my adult life and have given special atten- tion to organizations which assist those in our community who are most vulnerable. My volunteer work has been rec- ognized by The Working Cen- tre, as Citizen of the Year; Queen's Golden and Jubilee medals; and a Caring Canadi- an Award presented by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. I believe that the most im- portant issue in this election is change. Some candidates will argue that this is not the time for change because we need experienced people to deal with the issues that will come before Regional Council in its next term. Effective experi- ence does not come simply from being on council for nearly 20 years - practical ex- perience also comes from run- ning a successful family busi- ness, meeting a weekly pay- roll, and being an engaged citi- zen by actively volunteering in the community. Change is healthy. We need people elected who have fresh perspectives, a strong com- mitment to their community, and are driven by a passion for community building. Appro- priate change at the Regional table can be a route to new life, not to political chaos. I have had the pleasure to meet many Waterloo resi- dents during the past number of months and during those meetings I have been con- firmed in my convictions. I discovered that we share many of the same concerns: affordable housing, the opioid crisis, promoting the region as a single destination to create employment opportunities, protecting our environment, effective transportation, and creating a community where everyone feels included. I consider myself a team player. In business, and as a community volunteer, I have demonstrated a willingness to listen, consult, and then to work together to reach an ac- ceptable outcome. I am con- vinced that my experiences learned in business and in the community - including as a former member of Waterloo City Council -- would be an as- set as a member of Waterloo Regional Council. WATERLOO REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE: JIM ERB Jim Erb In advance of the munici- pal election, we've asked the candidates for Waterloo re- presentation on regional council one simple question: Why should the public vote for you? For the past few months, I've been knocking on doors, and hearing from many of you about where you see our region's future headed. You tell me about the need for us to innovate, to live up to our reputation as Canada's premiere tech ecosystem. You tell me that getting around the city shouldn't be this hard. That we need to get LRT service off to the right start but we can't forget about the fact that sidewalks are a mess and our most vulnera- ble residents are often left to walk in the streets, dodging cars and mountains of snow. I've heard about the need for better communication and input-seeking from the region on issues like con- struction and new develop- ments. I've heard we need to in- vest in the arts and artists, let small businesses succeed, and build a better brand for our Region so that we can walk the walk on being a vi- brant place to live. I've heard concerns from our ageing residents, who don't see investments being made into the infrastructure, health care and services that they need and many more of us will need in the coming years. I've heard it's time for new ideas, fresh voices and di- verse perspectives. My experience is broad- from working on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for Jack Lay- ton, to my job here at Com- munitech, where I connect local tech companies with volunteer opportunities, I have the skills, energy and community background it takes to do this job well. On October 22nd, we have a choice to make between the status quo, that we've had for 18 years, and change. It's about time for our local gov- ernment to reflect the diversi- ty and innovation of Waterloo Region. I hope you use one of your two votes on October 22nd to give new voices and perspec- tives the chance to help shape afuture Waterloo that's for all of us. Thank you to everyone over this campaign that I've met and been inspired to keep working hard for. I won't let you down. WATERLOO REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE: BEISAN ZUBI Beisan Zubi In advance of the munici- pal election, we've asked the candidates for Waterloo re- presentation on regional council one simple question: Why should the public vote for you? It has been an honour and privilege to serve the citi- zens of Waterloo as your re- gional councillor over the past number of years. We have accomplished a lot to- gether including improved transit, improved roads, im- proved cycling infrastruc- ture, additional affordable housing and investments in social programs that help the poor and disadvantaged. Waterloo is a great place to work and raise a family. But, more works need to be done. If re-elected I will work to; in- clude dollars for cycling in- frastructure in road bud- gets, construct 600 kilome- ters of bike lanes, trails and sidewalks, advocate for all way all day GO to run before 2024, ensure plans to im- prove access to the 401 on the West side of Waterloo are completed, continue to pro- tect the countryside line, create 500 more affordable housing units and improve communication with resi- dents for intensification pro- jects. I am also committed to working with local technolo- gy companies to improve traffic flow along busy re- gional roads. Balancing in- creased community invest- ments with moderate tax in- creases has been my ap- proach as Chair of Budget committee and I will contin- ue this approach if re-elect- ed. BIG CHALLENGES ARE AHEAD OF US Our region is set to face big challenges over the next four years. Ontario's new government has already brought rapid changes and funding cuts - including the repeal of the carbon tax, which will have an impact on funding for municipal infra- structure. In the Region, we're also electing a new Re- gional Chair, as well as the commissioning of ION. Suc- cessfully integrating the ION with GRT and growing ridership will be key. In the face of these challenges, it is important to have experi- enced, steady hands at the council table. I believe the best approach to navigating these challenges is by elect- ing candidates who have strong, experienced leader- ship. My roots in Waterloo run deep and I am proud of our community and what we have accomplished together. But more work needs to be done. With your support I would be honoured to serve the citizens of Waterloo as your regional councillor for another four years WATERLOO REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE: SEAN STRICKLAND Sean Strickland