Four years ago, I asked Elmira for the opportunity to serve on Woolwich Council. This time, voters do not have to judge me only on promises. There is a record. Some things moved forward. Some decisions were difficult. Some work remains unfinished. I think a re-election campaign should be candid about all three. These are my answers to the questions I think Elmira residents have a right to ask.

My Record and the Next Four Years

Why are you running for re-election?

Because I believe four years of experience can now be put to better use. My first term gave me a much deeper understanding of Woolwich's finances, infrastructure, water and wastewater systems, Regional relationships, environmental files and the practical limits of municipal authority. It also made clear where the next council needs to apply more pressure. Household costs are rising. Infrastructure needs are significant. Water and wastewater bills deserve stronger scrutiny. Arthur Street has to be completed properly. The bypass remains unresolved. Elmira's environmental remediation is entering another important phase. I want to continue that work with the advantage of knowing the files, the people and the institutions involved.

How is your 2026 campaign different from your 2022 campaign?

In 2022, I ran primarily on community building, downtown Elmira and environmental sustainability. Those priorities are still important to me. The difference is that four years on council have given me a much sharper understanding of the financial pressures underneath almost every municipal decision. That experience has led me to four priorities for the next term:

A Stronger Community

Affordability and Value

Infrastructure and the Bypass

Environmental Sustainability

The emphasis has changed because I have learned more about the job.

What did you actually do during your first term?

I try to be careful about the difference between something I personally moved or challenged and something accomplished collectively by council, staff, residents or another government. Some examples of my work include:

• helping carry Elmira's concerns about the Arthur Street design to the Region

• chairing the Technical Remediation Advisory Committee during an important period in Elmira's remediation work

• chairing the Elmira BIA Board and implementing beautification, events, programs, and the Arthur Street transition

• moving a $100,000 investigation into wastewater inflow and infiltration

• supporting repayment of internal borrowing while strengthening future infrastructure reserves

• helping establish the 2SLGBTQ+ working-group process and participating in the broader equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging work that followed

• bringing individual resident concerns to Township staff, the Region and other organizations when the issue fell outside direct Township control

I do not think every useful contribution at council ends with a ribbon cutting. Sometimes the job is to get a better question asked, a decision reconsidered or a local concern into a process where it was not receiving enough attention.

Did you accomplish everything you promised in 2022?

No. The full downtown vision I described was not completed. The Elmira bypass has not been delivered. The aquifer has not been restored. More work remains on Elmira's tree canopy and mature-tree stewardship.There was progress on those files, but I do not think progress should be presented as completion. My record isn't that I did everything. It is that I learned the files, showed my work, and kept Elmira's interests at the table.

Affordability and Value

Taxes increased significantly during your term. How do you answer that?

By acknowledging it directly. I supported the final Township budgets during my first term. The published Township rate increases were 8.68 per cent in 2023, 8.7 per cent in 2024, 10 per cent in 2025 including the infrastructure component, and 7.8 per cent in 2026. That is not a low-tax record. There were legitimate pressures behind those budgets, including infrastructure, equipment, winter control, insurance, utilities, staffing, fire services and rapidly escalating construction costs. Council also made spending choices. I also supported additional spending in some cases. In 2024, I supported additional fire-training capacity. In 2026, I proposed another one per cent for infrastructure reserves because I believed the long-term funding gap remained too large. That motion did not receive a seconder. My lesson from those four budgets is not that council should simply choose the smallest possible number. It's that every significant expenditure has to face a much harder test. What does it cost? What does it cost a household? Is it necessary now? Can it be phased? Is there another funding source? What happens if we do not proceed? That is the affordability discipline I want to bring to the next term.

Will you promise a specific tax cap?

No. A candidate can pick an attractive number during an election, but no one knows today what inflation, insurance, contracts, emergencies or infrastructure failures will look like several budgets from now. I would rather make a commitment about how decisions will be made. New spending should be justified against alternatives. Existing spending should not be exempt from review. The household impact should be clear before major votes. Core services and necessary infrastructure should take priority over lower-value additions.

Where do you think council can find better value?

The first place is in the decision-making process itself. Major proposals should come with realistic alternatives rather than a single recommended option. Council should see the lifecycle cost, not simply the purchase price. Grants and senior-government funding should be pursued before taxpayers absorb the full cost. Projects should be staged where staging saves money without creating larger future liabilities. Existing services also need scrutiny. Something should not remain in the budget forever merely because it has always been there. The purpose is not indiscriminate cutting. It is making sure scarce municipal dollars are being used where they provide the greatest public value.

What is your position on municipal debt?

Debt can be a legitimate way to finance a long-lived asset, but borrowing should never make a project look cheaper than it really is. Council should know the total financing cost, what reserves are available, whether outside funding is realistic and whether the project needs to proceed immediately. I have questioned debt-funded projects where I thought council should examine timing and alternatives more carefully. I also supported repaying internal borrowing and redirecting the former repayment amount toward infrastructure reserves. Debt is a financing decision, not a substitute for deciding whether something is affordable.

Water and Wastewater

Why are water and wastewater bills such an important issue?

Because residents experience them directly, yet the underlying cost structure is difficult to understand. The bill reflects several pressures, including Regional water and treatment costs, Township infrastructure and operations, capital replacement, reserves and the condition of the system. Residents shouldn't need to become finance experts to understand why their bill is increasing. I want much clearer reporting on where utility revenue goes and what is driving proposed increases.

Are you promising to lower water bills?

No. I can't credibly promise that because many of the underlying costs are real and some are outside direct Township control. What I can commit to is harder scrutiny. Council should see how much of an increase comes from Regional costs, Township operations, capital projects, reserves and other pressures. It should also examine the balance between fixed and consumption-based charges and consider meaningful alternatives before approving a rate structure. If residents are being asked to pay more, council should be able to explain why.

Why spend $100,000 investigating wastewater inflow and infiltration?

Because wastewater systems can end up carrying and treating water that should never have entered them. Leaks, infrastructure defects and inappropriate connections can allow groundwater or stormwater into the sanitary system. Once that happens, the municipality can end up paying to move and treat unnecessary volume. I moved the investigation because identifying those sources gives us a chance to determine whether targeted repairs can reduce long-term costs. Sometimes responsible spending means investing now to identify where money is being wasted.

Infrastructure

Why has infrastructure become such a major priority?

Because infrastructure problems become more expensive when they are ignored. Roads, bridges, sidewalks, water systems, wastewater systems, drainage infrastructure, fire equipment, facilities, parks and other municipal assets all deteriorate over time. Council can postpone a project, but it cannot postpone physical deterioration indefinitely. I want the next council to be much clearer about the condition of the assets Woolwich already owns, the consequences of deferral and the amount required to maintain them properly.

Does that mean infrastructure should always come before new services?

Not automatically. It means council should understand the obligations it already has before casually creating new ones. A new facility or amenity has a construction cost, but it also has staffing, maintenance, utility and eventual replacement costs. There will still be worthwhile new investments. The full cost should simply be visible before council commits future taxpayers to them.

What is your approach to neighbourhood roads, sidewalks and traffic concerns?

Start with the actual problem and the evidence. Residents often know precisely where something feels unsafe or does not work properly. The solution, however, may not always be the sign, stop control or physical change first proposed. That is how I think these decisions should work. Understand the concern, examine the evidence and then choose the intervention.

The Elmira Bypass

Where is the bypass?

It is not built, funded or ready for construction. The major road network is controlled by Waterloo Region, so Woolwich Council cannot simply order an Elmira bypass to be built. What Woolwich representatives can do is keep making the case. Elmira has significant truck traffic running through its core. The community is growing. Arthur Street has competing demands involving businesses, pedestrians, parking and through traffic. A serious bypass discussion has to address transportation demand, heavy trucks, safety, growth, route options, cost and funding. I will continue pushing the Region to move that discussion toward something more concrete.

Why keep talking about something Woolwich does not control?

Because representing Elmira includes advocating to the governments that make decisions affecting Elmira. Jurisdiction matters because it determines who can make the final decision. It shouldn't determine whether I care about the issue. Arthur Street is Regional. Environmental remediation involves the Province and a private company. Transit is Regional. Part of the job is knowing where authority sits and then taking the community's case there.

Arthur Street and Downtown Elmira

What was your role in the Arthur Street redesign?

I challenged elements of the Region's original proposal, particularly the potential loss of a significant amount of already constrained downtown parking throughout my term. I also questioned whether the consultation process had given residents and businesses a meaningful opportunity to evaluate the trade-offs. I attended all of the joint working group meetings with regional and township staff to advocate for the townships vision. I carried Elmira concerns into the Regional discussion, alongside the mayor, businesses, residents, Township staff and others. The 2026 phase ultimately proceeded while retaining the constrained parking and without the proposed on-street cycling lanes. Trees will also be brought to our downtown core once again. I consider that an example of effective local advocacy, but it was not an individual accomplishment.

Are you opposed to cycling infrastructure?

No. I opposed a specific design on a specific section of Arthur Street. Downtown Arthur Street has limited physical space, significant truck traffic, businesses, pedestrians, parking needs and several competing transportation demands. I support safer active transportation connections. I do not think good transportation planning requires placing the same type of infrastructure on every road regardless of local conditions.

What happened to the downtown revitalization you campaigned on?

It remains unfinished. There has been incremental progress through greening, Community Improvement Plan support, BIA work, beautification, events and the Arthur Street rehabilitation. But the broader vision I discussed in 2022 was larger than road reconstruction. Once Arthur Street is completed, I want the Township to evaluate how the new corridor actually functions and use that information to guide the next stage of downtown work. The goal should be a downtown that is practical for businesses and residents, attractive, walkable and recognizably Elmira.

What happened with the Arthur Street trees?

I initially supported keeping the badly needed 2026 rehabilitation on schedule rather than delaying it for the proposed engineered soil-cell approach. I had concerns about cost, maintenance and project timing. As chair of the BIA, I listened to the businesses who couldn't tolerate waiting for reconstruction when I voted to move forward. Residents and local groups subsequently made a strong case that the opportunity for downtown trees deserved further examination and perhaps not sufficient consultation had taken place with TWEEC. I supported reopening the issue through an approach that could consider planting opportunities without delaying the road project. I do not think changing a position after additional public discussion is something a councillor should hide. The real test will be whether appropriate trees are successfully established and maintained to maturity.

Growth and Housing

Are you pro-growth?

I support responsible growth. Elmira will grow. New development can bring housing, businesses and additional assessment. It can also create demands for roads, water, wastewater, drainage, fire protection, parks and other services. Council should understand both sides of that equation. Growth should be properly serviced, financially sustainable and designed with some respect for the neighbourhood and community around it.

Should existing taxpayers have to subsidize new development?

Not where the cost can reasonably and legally be attributed to growth. The principle that growth should contribute to the infrastructure it requires is sound. The complication is that development charges and municipal financing operate within provincial rules, grant programs and other funding arrangements.That means I will look at the complete financial effect of a proposal. If Woolwich gives something up but receives substantially greater funding for infrastructure we already require, that may make sense. If the cost is simply shifted onto existing households, I am much more skeptical.

What type of housing do you want to see in Elmira?

More choice. Families need homes. Young adults need attainable rental and ownership options. Seniors may want to downsize without leaving the community. People with disabilities need accessible housing. That means considering different forms and sizes of housing while still paying attention to servicing, transportation and neighbourhood impacts. I have supported work that could advance additional mixed-use housing in central Elmira, but municipal approvals should never be confused with homes actually being constructed.

Environmental Sustainability

What is happening with the Elmira aquifer?

The aquifer remains contaminated, and the longstanding 2028 remediation objective will not be achieved. I chair the Technical Remediation Advisory Committee, which provides a public forum for examining the remediation work, technical evidence and the actions of the responsible parties. My contribution has been in oversight, scrutiny and public accountability. I don't control the remediation system, the responsible company or the regulator. The next challenge is ensuring that the failure to meet the previous objective results in a credible new framework rather than a less accountable one.

What do you want the next remediation framework to look like?

Measurable. Residents should be able to understand the objective, the major milestones, the evidence being used, who is responsible for each action and whether progress is actually being made. The technical information should remain available in full, but it should also be communicated in language that residents can understand. Environmental accountability becomes much weaker when only specialists can determine whether commitments are being met.

What is your approach to Elmira's tree canopy?

Protect mature trees where reasonably possible and become much better at establishing the trees we plant. A new sapling does not immediately replace the environmental, cooling and community value of a mature tree. Tree stewardship therefore has to include soil conditions, watering, maintenance, survival and protection, not simply planting numbers. I want the Township to think about the urban forest as a long-term asset.

How do parks and trails fit into your environmental priority?

They are both environmental and community assets. Elmira has parks, trails and greenspaces that contribute substantially to quality of life. The priority should be to maintain them well, protect the features residents value and make practical improvements where genuine gaps exist. As with every other municipal asset, adding something new should include a plan for caring for it.

A Stronger Community

What do you mean by "A Stronger Community"?

The strength of Elmira is not created primarily at the council table. It is created by residents, families, businesses, volunteers, service clubs, community organizations, sports groups, faith communities, festivals and people who look after one another. Municipal government can either help those things function or make them unnecessarily difficult. My focus is on practical community-building. Ensuring there are good public spaces, local services, accessible facilities, support for community activity and a municipal government residents can actually navigate.

What role should the Township play in community events?

A supportive but responsible one. Events such as the Maple Syrup Festival, Moonlight Madness, multicultural celebrations, Pride activities and other community gatherings contribute to local identity and bring people together. Municipal support still has costs involving staffing, roads, facilities, insurance and other resources. Those costs should be transparent, but community life has value too.

Why have you been involved in inclusion and diversity work?

Because municipal government serves everyone who lives here. During my first term, I helped establish the EDIB working-group process and participated in the broader equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging work that followed. For me, the next phase should be practical. Are municipal spaces accessible? Are residents treated respectfully? Are legal obligations being met? Can people participate in community life? Are adopted commitments actually being implemented? That is a more useful test than simply counting statements or proclamations.

Why are you talking about attracting services that the Township does not provide?

Because local government can still advocate. Residents regularly identify services they have to leave Elmira to access. A councillor can help demonstrate demand, contact providers, connect them with municipal officials and identify potential barriers to locating here. I cannot order a health-care or diagnostic provider to open an Elmira location. I can help make Elmira's case.

Responsiveness and Representation

What does "responsive" mean in practice?

It means doing more than sending a quick reply. When someone contacts me, I try to determine who actually controls the issue, get it to the right place and follow up when necessary. Residents should not need to understand the division of responsibility between Woolwich, Waterloo Region, the Province and outside agencies before contacting their councillor. Sometimes I can help solve the problem. Sometimes I can't. Either way, people deserve an explanation.

What happens when you disagree with a resident?

I tell them respectfully and explain why. Representation does not mean agreeing with every person who contacts me. Council often has to balance competing interests, financial limits, legal requirements and impacts on other residents. I think people are generally better served by a clear answer than by a politician trying to tell everyone what they want to hear.

Do you always support staff recommendations?

No, although I respect the expertise staff bring to council. Staff and council have different responsibilities. Staff provide professional analysis and recommendations. Councillors are responsible for testing those recommendations, asking about alternatives, understanding the consequences and ultimately making the decision. A strong local government needs professional staff and elected officials willing to exercise independent judgement.

Are you willing to change your mind?

Yes. Sometimes new evidence becomes available. Sometimes residents identify something that was not fully considered. Sometimes a better option emerges. I think changing a position can be responsible if the reason is clear. A councillor's responsibility is to make the best decision possible with the information available, not to defend every previous position forever.

Difficult Decisions

How do you decide whether to support an expensive project?

I ask several questions. Is it necessary? What problem does it solve? What happens if we delay it? Are there less expensive alternatives? Can another government contribute? What does it cost over its full life rather than only in the first year? Who ultimately pays? Those questions do not always produce the cheapest answer. They produce a better understanding of the decision.

Are you a tax-and-spend councillor?

I do not think that description fits the way I make decisions. I have supported spending where I believed the service, safety or infrastructure case justified it. I have also challenged projects, supported reductions, questioned debt and asked that proposals be reconsidered. My test is not whether spending is inherently good or bad. It is whether the public value justifies the public cost.

About Me

What experience do you bring outside council?

Before becoming a full-time professor, I spent more than a decade working in Ontario's public service in analytical, policy, program-management and advisory positions. I hold a master's degree in Criminal Justice Policy and teach in Conestoga College's Bachelor of Community and Criminal Justice program. That background has given me experience reading complicated reports, evaluating evidence, understanding government systems and asking whether institutions are producing the results they are supposed to produce.

Does being a professor shape the way you govern?

It does in one useful respect. My work requires me to examine evidence carefully and distinguish between a claim and what the evidence actually supports. Municipal government benefits from that kind of scrutiny. At the same time, residents do not need an academic answer when they have a problem with a road, a water bill or a municipal service. The goal is to take complicated information and turn it into practical decisions.

You had only lived in Elmira a few years when you were first elected. What about now?

I was open about being relatively new to Elmira when I ran in 2022. I grew up nearby in Drayton and moved to Elmira with my family in 2019. Four years representing Ward 1 have given me a much deeper understanding of the community, its neighbourhoods, businesses, institutions and the issues residents bring forward. Local knowledge is something you earn by being present, listening and doing the work.

The Choice in 2026

What would be different in a second term?

I would expect experience to show. I know much more now about where Woolwich's financial pressures sit, how Regional decisions affect Elmira, how infrastructure decisions compound over time and where council needs better information before voting. My goal is a second term with more measurable accountability: clearer spending decisions, better utility transparency, stronger infrastructure reporting, continued pressure on the bypass, careful follow-through on Arthur Street and a transparent next phase for environmental remediation. Experience should make me more demanding of the institution, not more comfortable within it.

Why should Elmira vote for you again?

Because there is now a record to judge. You don't have to agree with every vote I've cast. I would be suspicious of any councillor claiming that everyone should. I am asking voters to consider whether I have been accessible, whether I have learned the files, whether I have asked useful questions, whether I have represented Elmira when decisions were being made elsewhere and whether I have been candid about difficult choices. There is work I am proud of. There are decisions I would make with more experience now. And there is important work still unfinished. I am asking for the opportunity to put four years of experience back to work for Elmira.