Experience Matters. Especially Now.
The next Council will face unprecedented growth and change. The decisions East Gwillimbury Council makes over the next four years will shape our communities for decades. And for the first time, I may be the only returning Councillor.
That matters.
Not because experience means accepting the status quo. It means knowing when the status quo isn't good enough. It means understanding how municipal government works and having the experience to challenge decisions, ask difficult questions and stand up for residents when it matters.
I've spent eight years doing exactly that. You don't have to guess what I'll do. I've been doing the job.
Experience doesn’t mean how long you’ve “sat in a seat”.
Experience means A RECORD YOU CAN SEE.
Experience doesn't mean accepting the status quo.
Experience means knowing how the system works and having the confidence to CHALLENGE IT.
Experience means knowing what questions to ask, when to push back and HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
Experience doesn't mean you are owed anything.
Experience means what you bring to the table, what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve acquired from ACTUALLY DOING THE JOB is a valuable asset for the community.
Experience is not just an election slogan, I've spent years challenging growth and development that I believed was wrong for East Gwillimbury. And 15 years on the school board advocating for students, parents and teachers at the board table and at Queen’s Park. In doing so, I’ve learned what is effective, when to apply pressure, and how to get colleagues on board to support issues important to the community.
Understanding that nothing you promise in an election campaign can be done without the hard work of collaborating with staff and colleagues, is one of the biggest lessons new politicians learn. We’ve seen inexperienced Councillors, even this term, bringing forward ideas, only to see them defeated because they didn’t understand the necessary work that turns ideas, into results. Experienced councillors already know how to accomplish real results for residents from years acquiring a skill set to make them effective representatives.
While many will argue that “change is good,” and I agree to a certain point, but not change for the sake of change. Experience matters, particularly when the decisions before us are complex and the pressures facing our community are greater than ever, having someone at the table that understands how to do the job is essential.
We will have a new mayor and, depending on the will of the electorate, perhaps one with very little council, or even corporate, experience. A brand-new council led by a new and inexperienced Mayor is not in the best interests of residents. At a time when East Gwillimbury is facing tremendous growth pressure from both the Province and local developers, having someone at the table who understands how things work, knows the issues, and has the experience to challenge staff recommendations, is more important than ever.
East Gwillimbury needs all the experience we can get around the Council table in order to be most effective for residents.
For those that want change, rest assured, you are getting it! With a new Mayor and at least 5 out of 6 new Councillors. Now let’s look at setting us up for success by balancing this unprecedented change with the type of effective experience that can guide it.
The next four years may be the most consequential yet.
Let’s not risk it on change for change’s sake.
FOOTNOTE:
These are not just empty words.
Here are just some of the ways I have demonstrated what EXPERIENCE MEANS:
Challenging staff recommendations when they don’t make sense for residents Recent examples where I challenged staff recommendations:
o recent debate on applying Heritage Designations to private residences
o Council discussion on the development of Yonge and Green Lane
Voting “NO” on developments that are not appropriate for our town
A few examples: Council debates and votes on
o Holland Hope allocation
o 31 Sand Rd development
o Queensville Phase 8
o 291 Mount Albert Road
In all these cases, and many more, experienced Councillors effectively challenged staff recommendations and pushed for what residents wanted.
Fighting for residents on issues that matter to them
Examples:
o successfully advocating for traffic calming zones
o pushing staff to cancel a planned park when residents were concerned about nesting turtles
o knowing how to get 31 Sand log cabin on the agenda within days of hearing about it and
o knowing how to work with the developer to keep it from demolition
Challenging budget decisions
As an experienced Councillor, I’ve been able to present more cuts to the Budget and get them approved, than any other councillor
Demanding better planning
Knowing the planning process and what can and can’t be accomplished, I’ve successfully advocated for
o more parks and trails
o more access to services and amenities
o more parking for residents.
It takes years to learn how to be most effective at shaping the planning process.
Advocating for environmental protection
Throughout my time on council I have pushed for so many environmental initiatives – here are just a few examples:
o successful advocating for additional sustainability initiatives at the HALP (that will save tax dollars in the long run)
o Natural Heritage System connections within the Official Plan
o phosphorus reduction for Lake Simcoe
o and ultimately having a portion of Ward 1 zoned as a future Eco Park.
Knowing how to bring these ideas forward AND knowing how to get both staff and councillors on board is what experiences teaches.
Voting “No” even when the Region and the Province pressure us
I voted:
o AGAINST expanding developable areas of our town when the white belt lands were added to the Official Plan
o NO to Provincial growth targets
o NO to Strong Mayors Powers
Experience in knowing how to do the job and get the results residents want, is what Ward 1 deserves.
It’s not just an election slogan.
