Renfrew is a community with a proud history, hardworking residents, strong local businesses, and tremendous potential. But as we look toward the future, I believe it is time to ask ourselves an important question:
Are we satisfied with where we are today, or are we ready to build a stronger Renfrew for tomorrow?
I believe it is Time for Change.
Running for Mayor is not simply about seeking a different position. For me, it is about providing the leadership, accountability, transparency and vision that Renfrew needs for the years ahead.
FOUR YEARS OF POOR LEADERSHIP
Over the past four years, I believe Renfrew has suffered from poor leadership, a lack of accountability and too little long-term vision at a time when our community needed strong direction.
Leadership is more than holding a title. It means taking responsibility, asking difficult questions, bringing people together and ensuring that Council and taxpayers have the information they need to understand how their money is being spent.
Residents deserve leadership that is proactive rather than reactive. They deserve a Mayor who will listen, communicate openly, challenge the status quo when necessary and take responsibility when things go wrong.
The challenges we have experienced over the past four years should not simply be forgotten when election time arrives. We need to learn from them.
Renfrew deserves better leadership, and that is one of the reasons I am running for Mayor.
Our residents work hard for their money, and they deserve a municipal government that respects every tax dollar. We need to carefully examine spending, control unnecessary costs, plan responsibly for our infrastructure, and make decisions based on what provides the greatest long-term value to taxpayers.
LEARNING FROM MA-TE-WAY
The Ma-te-Way Expansion Project and the subsequent independent Third-Party Review should serve as an important lesson for our municipality.
The Third-Party Review identified serious concerns involving project oversight, budgeting, contract management, procurement practices and other areas of municipal governance.
Renfrew taxpayers deserve to know that when millions of dollars of public money are being spent, there are strong systems in place to protect their investment.
The problems identified through the Ma-te-Way review demonstrate why strong leadership and meaningful oversight matter. Major municipal projects cannot be allowed to proceed without clear accountability, accurate financial information and proper controls.
As Mayor, I would continue pushing for stronger accountability and oversight of major municipal projects. Council must receive clear and timely financial information, ask difficult questions, understand the risks involved, and ensure proper policies and controls are being followed.
Large projects should have clearly defined budgets, regular financial reporting, proper project management and meaningful Council oversight.
Most importantly, residents deserve transparency. When problems arise, municipal government should not hide from them. We should identify them, address them and explain to taxpayers what is being done to prevent them from happening again.
The lessons of Ma-te-Way must help shape how Renfrew conducts business in the future.
That is what Time for Change means to me: learning from the past and building a municipal government that residents can trust.
BUILDING A STRONGER RENFREW
Responsible government is about more than balancing the books.
We need to make Renfrew a community where businesses want to invest, where families want to raise their children, where seniors are proud to call home, and where our young people can see a future for themselves.
My priorities include:
- Responsible and accountable spending
- Stronger oversight of major capital projects
- Better roads and infrastructure
- Economic development and attracting new businesses
- Supporting our existing local businesses
- Greater transparency at Town Hall
- Better communication with residents
- Planning for growth instead of simply reacting to it
- Listening to residents before making major decisions
- Restoring confidence and trust in municipal leadership
Change does not mean forgetting Renfrew's past. It means learning from it and having the courage to do things differently when something is no longer working.
As a member of Renfrew Town Council, I have seen both the opportunities before our community and the challenges we need to address.
I believe the next Mayor must be prepared to ask difficult questions, listen to residents, work constructively with Council and staff, and make decisions based on what is best for the entire community.
After four years of what I believe has been poor leadership, Renfrew has an opportunity to choose a different direction.
I am ready to bring new leadership, new ideas, greater accountability and a renewed focus on the people of Renfrew.
This campaign isn't about one person.
It's about our community, our tax dollars and the future we can build together.
