Glen Abbey resident has entered mayoral race by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Wednesday, March 26, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Glen Abbey resident Gordon Brennan has thrown his hat in the ring to become Oakville's next mayor. Brennan, who has called Oakville home for 20 years, has officially registered as a candidate running against Mayor Rob Burton, who is seeking his third term as Oakville's mayor in the upcoming Oct. 27 municipal election. The 50-year-old Brennan told the Oakville Beaver Monday rather than sit back and criticize the local municipal government without ever doing anything about it, he's decided to make the leap into politics in the hope of creating "real change." Noting how he feels there's a single-minded approach and "extremism" affecting how the current Town council functions, he said he'd like to see a more "controlled balanced approach" to governing municipal affairs. "I believe, after eight years of Burton, we need a change and I believe I can be that change," said Brennan, noting the mayoral role is where he can be more effective, more so than as a ward councillor. Married with two sons, aged 14 and 11, Brennan said he's a strong-willed person who would be committed to finishing every I know construction, I know business, I know education, I know children's needs, I know mothers' needs and stay-at-home moms, and I know all these things because I've experienced it through my own life in Oakville, as well as growing up. I'll be able to use the mayoral job to expand the knowledge and awareness of these people, who often get overlooked and passed by. Oakville mayoral candidate Gordon Brennan Gordon Brennan project started. That means working until agreement is reached by all parties concerned about the issues of the community. Those issues may be residential, commercial and industrial development, roads and infrastructure and land use, he wrote in his pitch to become mayor. Brennan currently juggles his role as a stay-at-home dad with tutoring college students occasionally and managing his son Connor's singing career. In 2007, he made a major career change, opting to leave the real estate world after 27 years to go back to school to become an early childhood educator. During his years at Sheridan College's Trafalgar campus, he taught at a childcare centre and worked at the college's career centre. He also privately tutored students, wrote a book and advocated for more recognition of male teachers entering and staying in the classroom at all grade levels. Although Brennan admits he lacks politi- cal experience, he said he believes inexperience will be his strongest asset if elected to Town council. "I know construction, I know business, I know education, I know children's needs, I know mothers' needs and stay-at-home moms and I know all these things because I've experienced it through my own life in Oakville, as well as growing up," said Brennan, who has also been involved with a number of his children's school councils. "I'll be able to use the mayoral job to expand the knowledge and awareness of these people, who often get overlooked and passed by." Rather than "kissing babies and gladhanding," he said he's serious about taking care of business in the office and in the field, to make sure things get done in a timely matter. Describing himself as a liberal-minded Conservative, Brennan's ideas for the town include having municipal childcare spaces, a Special (Needs) Children's Day and getting more involved with the Province to expand education. His future goals include opening a licensed childcare centre that specializes in day care for boys and children with autism. For information about the municipal election, visit www.oakville.ca and click on the 2014 election tab at the top. inside today's Editorial Sports Beaver www.insideHALTON.com 6 18 Artscene Classified 16 22 Barbecues Galore Salvation Army Recycling Real Estate Reitman's Lowes Canada National Sports Bouclair XS Cargo *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Voted Number 1 Financial Planner 10 Years THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO DESIGN YOUR DREAM AYA KITCHEN Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner SINCE 1991 AYA KITCHENS OF OAKVILLE · 1195 North Service Road West AyAoakville.com · 905.847.1522 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com