Photo of Emma Walker at All Candidates’s Meeting at CDHS on Oct. 1

Walker Challenges Incumbent Gene Brahaney

One Seat on Council Available for Ward 1

Editor’s Note: All of the councillor candidates have been offered the opportunity to provide an 800-word media release and photo which will be published prior to the election.

The following is Walker’s Statement:

“I am running as a candidate for councillor in ward 1. I moved to Campbellford 8 years ago from Whitby, Ontario. During my high school years, I worked on a farm in Warkworth and loved it. I learned a valuable lesson on that farm…the value of hard work! After spending some time away in college, I decided to return to Trent Hills, which just felt like home. I feel it is important for me to do my part in helping community, my home, and to be the voice for those that are not being heard.

We need young people in our community, and young people need good paying jobs. I will work with the new council to help create new jobs and will explore new partnerships with local employers to see what gaps exist in the current labour market.

Our residents need attainable housing. Not everyone wants to own a home and so we must include a variety of options for people, including rental properties.

One of the questions that has arisen at the Ward discussions is the need for more by-law officers, something that I believe is critical as we look at regulating Short Term Accommodations.

Healthcare is critical to a vibrant community and I will work with council to ensure that the needs of our residents are heard. Like other communities, we have a substance abuse challenge as well as residents in need of mental health support.

I want to be more involved in helping our community with its various local events, as these are important to the ongoing success of our local businesses.

I look forward to learning more about how municipalities work and I hope that by running in this election I will inspire more young people to take an active interest in local politics. We are the future and our community needs us to be involved.

I’d like to help improve all parts of the municipality starting with the lack of jobs, the shortage of affordable housing, improve the prevention of homelessness and drug addiction program, improve our healthcare, improve our policing and by-law shortage, beautification, stop the increase of taxes to balance steep water bills, clean up our parks and ensure our businesses are thriving always.

As a councilor I’d like to focus on not only the most beneficial way to use the budget but how to grow the budget. Council has to work together as a strong team, and we will be able to accomplish so much.

The importance of a more transparent and communicative council is something we all need. We need to not only focus on the now but we need to ensure a bright future for our children and our children’s children. If elected, I will be your voice. I am working for you.”

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