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Like you, I've always been
proud to call Oshawa home.
We should all be
proud of our community, its families, youth, seniors, volunteers and small
business people alike — even our elected officials.
But for almost a
decade, Oshawa’s residents have been short-changed, embarrassed and often
treated with contempt by their local politicians. Somehow, though,
Oshawa manages to progress
in spite
of
its elected leadership -- a real testament to the self-respect, hard work,
ingenuity, and optimism of Oshawa's residents and stakeholders.
Oshawa’s current
city council has reached the point of dysfunction and risks irrelevance.
Is it any wonder that 75% of Oshawa
residents did not vote in the 2006 municipal
election? However, I
can confidently say that “All
is not lost” As I noted at my June campaign launch, the governance,
economic and
environmental challenges our city faces are daunting, but not insurmountable.
Hope and opportunity
abound in Oshawa.
Ours is a community filled with heart, spirit and hope. Oshawa’s citizens, from
its earliest pioneers to its newest arrivals, have exemplified themselves as
industrious, selfless, compassionate and no-nonsense people.
As Oshawa’s new
mayor, I pledge that your council will operate as a board of management, as
opposed to a board of ‘mis’-management,
which is too often disconnected from the very people it exists to serve. Your
city council desperately
requires renewal. It
must embrace the principles of accountability, sound fiscal management, informed
decision-making, and cooperation.
My campaign is not
about running against
someone. Rather, I am running for something — namely, new
opportunities for Oshawa and new respect for its taxpayers.
That’s why my
campaign for mayor will focus on
three key areas, expanding upon
themes I
successfully articulated during my election as Regional and City Councillor for
Ward 5 in 2006:
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Restoring respect for taxpayers at city hall by attacking the corporation’s
debt load, high tax rates, and accountability issues;
-
Creating
transformational economic growth and new job opportunities; and,
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Re-establishing a ‘residents first’ community-oriented approach to
decision-making, at both the local and regional levels.
As my campaign
unfolds, you’ll learn more about my ideas and plans for each of these areas. If
we address these areas and work cooperatively over the next four years, Oshawa
will again have the respectful, accountable, and business-like council it
deserves.
I hope we have the
chance to speak personally in the coming weeks.
I truly appreciate your
consideration.
With your help, we
will make a difference this October.
With sincere thanks,
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