6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 3, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 905-337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS A DIVISION OF METROLAND MEDIA GROUP WEST GROUP PUBLISHER IAN OLIVER Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, Caledon Enterprise, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Our choice for mayor Is it time for a change as far as the mayor of Oakville is concerned? In our opinion -- no. There's little doubt that in this election Ann Mulvale is facing the most serious challenge during her 18 years as mayor of Oakville. But does that mean now is the right time for a change? Oakville is heading toward a critical juncture. The town has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and it will continue to do so -- both in north Oakville and within its existing urban boundaries. Much of this growth is driven by Provincial policies to accommodate Ontario's growing population. Simply saying no to growth is not an option. What we must do is ensure the growth is well-planned and does not come at the expense of existing residents and their neighbourhoods. Oakville needs an experienced leader at the helm. Now is not the time to turn the reins over to someone who will have to undergo a learning curve as mayor. Thanks to her 18 years in office and her work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) -- she has twice served as president of the organization -- Mulvale is one of the most respected municipal politicians in Ontario -- and perhaps Canada. Through her numerous contacts at the provincial and federal levels of government, Mulvale cannot only knock on doors on behalf of Oakville residents, she can open them. Her vision as mayor of a busy, growing urban municipality with a smalltown friendly atmosphere is not just limited to wielding a gavel at Town Council meetings, but liaising, cajoling, arguing and working with all levels of government for the best interests of residents in her community. Yes, Oakville has undergone growing pains in recent years. In the past year, the Town of Oakville has waged and lost two expensive and high-profile Ontario Municipal Board hearings over the Sharkey's and Palm Place high rise condominium developments. But were the losses her fault or those of the OMB hearing process, which she has lobbied the province strenuously to reform? In the past term, under her leadership, the Town has managed to avoid an expensive $13-million OMB hearing over the development of north Oakville by negotiating a settlement with many of the developers. At the same time, the Town has established a Natural Heritage System (NHS) in the north to preserve greenspace for existing and future citizens. While her three main opponents -- Ward 3 Town Councillor Chris Stoate, Ward 6 Regional Councillor Janice Wright and resident Rob Burton are formidable, they have not convinced us they would be a better alternative as mayor. Stoate is successful businessman, but has only completed his first threeyear term as a Town councillor. Janice Wright is just finishing her second three-year term as a regional and local councillor. Both candidates have represented their constituents well during their terms of office and both will be missed if they should lose on Nov. 13. If Mulvale were not running, we believe both Wright and Stoate would be good, sound choices for mayor. But she is running and we have to side with her leadership experience over that of her two colleagues on council. As for Burton, as we said three years ago, he would be better off running for a Town or Regional council position to gain vital experience before running for mayor. Would a corporation with a nearly $200-million combined operating and capital budget hire a CEO with absolutely no experience? Why should we elect a mayor with no experience in public office? Serving as mayor and leading a community through difficult times is a lot more complex than serving as a vocal president of a residents' association. As for Burton's many promises, we remind voters that it is much easier to make election promises, as Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has learned, than it is to keep them. In this election, we believe experienced leadership is key to Oakville's continued prosperity. For that reason, our vote goes to Mulvale. Whether or not you agree with our choice, we encourage everyone eligible to vote on Nov. 13 to stand up and be counted. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. School trustee candidate responds I've read the article (Oakville Beaver, Wed., Nov. 1) a couple times now, and would like to commend Krissie Rutherford on her thoroughness. A few things need clarifying, however. Preaching to the choir -- The school council newsletter, Les Devoirs, went home in 750 to 800 backpacks -- one per family in the school. Most of the recipients are already aware of the contributions made by the three homegrown candidates within their community over the last decade. Both Kathryn Bateman-Olmstead and I are past school council chairs, and all of us are in the school almost every day volunteering. Glenn Woolfrey organized the mass juggling attempt last spring which put him in touch with every family at Pine Grove as well as families at Eastview and T.A. Blakelock. Pine Grove's school council newsletter is parent funded -- one of the complainants suggested that the cost of publishing Les Devoirs ($40$80 per month) comes out of the public pocket. Pine Grove parents pay for their school council newsletter, not the school board, not the Province, and not the taxpayer. No law was broken -- It is not board practice to promote a particular candidate. However, the Provincial Education Act is mute regarding See No page 7 Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.