RSVPs
With the aim of increasing voter turnout in the upcoming municipal election, candidates for Mayor and Ward Councilor in Prince Edward County were invited to share their thoughts on a wide range of issues once a week.
Responses from candidates for Ward 4 – Ameliasburgh are here:
- Responses to Invitation 8
- Accountability & transparency
- Responses to Invitation 7
- Responses to Invitation 6
- Responses to Invitation 5
- Responses to Invitation 4
- Responses to Invitation 3
- Responses to Invitation 2
- Responses to Invitation 1
Respondents
| Invitations | ||||||||
| Candidates for Ward 4 – Ameliasburgh (3 offices) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Paul BOYD |  |
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| Sam GROSSO | ||||||||
| Janice MAYNARD | ||||||||
| Roy PENNELL | ||||||||
| Bill TKACH | |
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Responses to Invitation 8
Candidates received Invitation 8 on October 5, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by October 17, 2022. Candidates who wanted their responses to be published before advance voting started were to forward them by October 12, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook beginning October 13, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. Please share how you would enhance Council’s approach to public engagement.
Not sure how this has worked. Door knocking has told me not many use it and those that do get no reaction.
2. Please share why you’re running and why voters should support you in the municipal election.
I seem to be the only candidate next to Pennell that is concerned about spending and debt.
Others have cute slogans like “building community together” grammatically incorrect but what does it mean?
How long does it take to build a hospital? Improving roads … that is a joke The county does not know how to build or fix a road.
Affordable housing. 10 years talking about the old Wellington arena and nothing has been done.
30 employees for the county make over 100 thousand dollars a year.
What would the director of Care do or a planning coordinator?
Things are out of control and no one seems concerned.
Bill Tkach
1. Please share how you would enhance Council’s approach to public engagement.
By being accessible. To expand, as no one is available 24/7, set expectations or goals on returning a phone call or email. Example, “I will return your email within 24 hours”. And if I am unavailable, ensuring that the automatic email reply or voicemail message indicates the length of unavailability and the return time.
2. Please share why you’re running and why voters should support you in the municipal election.
Why am I running for council?
The short answer is to give back to a place that has so warmly welcomed my family and the place we all proudly call home, The County. The longer answer? My wife’s family is in Ottawa and Kingston and when we visited them, we always tried to visit The County. After numerous enjoyable visits throughout the years, circumstance afforded us the opportunity for my wife Sharon and I to move here permanently in the spring of 2013.
Earlier this year I retired after spending more than 25 years in the financial industry as a sales executive, and now that I have the time, I believe the best way for me to give back is to run for council. I have always been interested in politics and feel that the varied experience I have gained throughout my career will allow me to address the issues of The County by bringing a new and challenging insight to council. The County’s vibrant growth needs clear and effective management to ensure it is beneficial to both ‘old’ and ‘new’ residents.
Over the years I have dealt with a diverse sales force, worked with outside vendors, continuously delivered on targets all the while maintaining budgets.
Why should voters support me?
I think one of my biggest attributes is the fact that I am not a politician. What I’ll bring to council is a “get things done” attitude and I feel that my innovative thinking and ability to use common sense to make rational decisions will be a benefit to the constituents of Ameliasburgh and The County.
I hope that I will represent Ward Four on council and I urge all to make sure that they vote. Advanced voting is available at the Ameliasburgh Town Hall from 10:00 AM to 4:00PM on October 15th, election day is October 24th from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and internet voting is available from 10:00 AM October 15th to 8:00 PM on October 24th.
Accountability & transparency
Three Invitations asked candidates to rate six proposals to enhance Council’s accountability and transparency:
- Invitation 4 – Additional conflicts of interest (2 proposals)
- Invitation 5 – Transparency and privacy (3 proposals)
- Invitation 7 – Recorded votes (1 proposal)
We have categorized candidates’ ratings of these proposals [Not in favour | Neither | In favour] below. Candidates were also asked to explain their ratings and we encourage everyone to consider their ratings alongside their explanations.
| Paul BOYD | |||
| Proposition | Not in favour |
Neither |
In favour |
| 1. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests. | |
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| 2. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child. | |
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| 3. A public register of requests for County records. | |||
| 4. The routine disclosure of County records. | |||
| 5. The active dissemination of County records. | |||
| 6. A Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded. | |||
| Sam GROSSO | |||
| Proposition | Not in favour |
Neither |
In favour |
| 1. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests. | |||
| 2. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child. | |||
| 3. A public register of requests for County records. | |||
| 4. The routine disclosure of County records. | |||
| 5. The active dissemination of County records. | |||
| 6. A Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded. | |||
| Janice MAYNARD | |||
| Proposition | Not in favour |
Neither |
In favour |
| 1. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests. | |||
| 2. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child. | |||
| 3. A public register of requests for County records. | |||
| 4. The routine disclosure of County records. | |||
| 5. The active dissemination of County records. | |||
| 6. A Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded. | |||
| Roy PENNELL | |||
| Proposition | Not in favour |
Neither |
In favour |
| 1. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests. | |||
| 2. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child. | |||
| 3. A public register of requests for County records. | |||
| 4. The routine disclosure of County records. | |||
| 5. The active dissemination of County records. | |||
| 6. A Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded. | |||
| Bill TKACH | |||
| Proposition | Not in favour |
Neither |
In favour |
| 1. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests. | |
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| 2. A Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child. | |
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| 3. A public register of requests for County records. | |
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| 4. The routine disclosure of County records. | |
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| 5. The active dissemination of County records. | |
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| 6. A Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded. | |||
Responses to Invitation 7
Candidates received Invitation 7 on October 3, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by October 11, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on October 12, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. For any one of [the nine themes covered in the 2022 VitalSigns Report], please outline a course of action that Council should consider to reinforce successes and/or address challenges identified in the 2022 VitalSigns Report.
Good health and well-being
Councillors should concentrate on the above rather than statues and parking. How many years to build a hospital? All these meetings in Toronto with 450 other municipalities seems hard to believe that a minister has the time to meet.
2. Please rate your level of agreement (Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree) with the following proposal: “Council should adopt a Procedure By-law that requires that all members’ votes on motions be recorded.”
Neither disagree or agree.
3. Please explain your rating.
If a councillor feels strongly about a motion and wants all to know how how they voted then do it.
4. Please share examples of how you’ve been trying to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion. What have been the biggest changes in your thinking? How are you applying what you’ve learned in your work in the County?
Diversity equity and inclusion. The above really means “shut up”. The left doesn’t want equality It is a terrible pursuit. Inclusive and diversity might be fine but we have to balance that without violating peoples individuals rights.
Responses to Invitation 6
Candidates received Invitation 6 on September 23, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by October 3, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on October 5, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. Please rate your overall satisfaction with each of the following service categories:
| Service category | Very dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Neither | Satisfied | Very satisfied |
| General government | |
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| Protection services | |
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| Transportation services | |
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| Environmental services | |
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| Health services | |
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| Social and family services | |
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| Social housing | |
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| Recreation and cultural services | |
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| Planning and development services | |
2. Please explain two of your ratings.
General government
Hard to do business (thank goodness for [Name] and [Name]). Get answers. Complain. Attend local issues and resolve. Roads. Fire department.
Social and family services
Homeless. Talked about in Wellington for 8 years and nothing done except an executive director.
Responses to Invitation 5
Candidates received Invitation 5 on September 20, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by September 26, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on September 28, 2022.
Respondents
Bill Tkach
1. Please rate your level of agreement (Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree) with the following:
“Council should adopt a Strategic Initiative to respond to [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s] Calls to Action 43, 47 and 57.”
Neither disagree or agree.
2. Please explain your rating.
I neither agree or disagree because I do not have an opinion on the initiatives as I find it hard to believe that they are not already in place or at least have the information available.
3. Please rate your level of agreement (Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree) with the following statements:
“The cost of maintaining a public register of requests for County records would likely outweigh its benefits.”
Agree.
“The cost of the routine disclosure of County records would likely outweigh its benefits.”
Agree.
“The cost of the active dissemination of County records would likely outweigh its benefits.”
Agree.
4. For any one of your ratings above, please describe your analysis of the different costs and benefits that lead to your conclusion (max. 500 words).
If there are an overwhelming number of such requests, then I think then the County should investigate creating routine disclosures. My opinion of keeping things simple still holds true, sometimes less policing can be better and more efficient.
Responses to Invitation 4
Candidates received Invitation 4 on September 14, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by September 19, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on September 20, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. Please identify and describe the general nature of any conflict of pecuniary interest – real or apparent, direct or indirect – that you would foresee needing to declare, given the sort of conflicts that have been disclosed by your predecessors in 2020-2022. [We later clarified the reference to 2020-2022 here. As the preamble re: “Pecuniary Conflicts of Interest” notes, these three years are the ones reported in the County’s online Annual Registries of members’ disclosoure of conflicts of interest.]
None.
2A & 3. Please indicate your agreement with the following statement: “The County should adopt a Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests.” Please elaborate.
Strongly agree.
Should be open on any or all perceived conflict.
2B & 4. Please indicate your agreement with the following statement: “The County should adopt a Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child.” Please elaborate.
Strongly agree.
As above.
5. In the voter’s own words, please identify the most difficult-to-answer question that you’ve been asked in your campaign.
Affordable housing.
6. Please explain why this question was the most difficult-to-answer.
Not possible in this county unless taxpayers want to pay the bill for a huge expense.
7. On October 21, 2020, Council voted unanimously to deny a rezoning application from Picton Terminals to bring in container and cruise ships. If presented with a similar vote today, how would you vote (deny or approve)? Why?
Would approve. Why do we always give job creating opportunities a hard time?
Bill Tkach
1. Please identify and describe the general nature of any conflict of pecuniary interest – real or apparent, direct or indirect – that you would foresee needing to declare, given the sort of conflicts that have been disclosed by your predecessors in 2020-2022. [We later clarified the reference to 2020-2022 here. As the preamble re: “Pecuniary Conflicts of Interest” notes, these three years are the ones reported in the County’s online Annual Registries of members’ disclosoure of conflicts of interest.]
My wife and I own a small vineyard. We currently sell our grapes to local wineries.
2A & 3. Please indicate your agreement with the following statement: “The County should adopt a Council Code of Conduct that addresses non-pecuniary conflicts of interests.” Please elaborate.
Disagree.
I agree that we need certain controls, however, coming from the financial world where compliance and codes of conduct were plentiful, I answered I disagree because too much of it can put a strangle hold on progress or in our case, making decisions.
2B & 4. Please indicate your agreement with the following statement: “The County should adopt a Council Code of Conduct that addresses the pecuniary conflicts of interests of a family member who is not a parent, spouse or child.” Please elaborate.
Disagree.
Where do we draw the line on who to include and who not to include. Keep it simple and transparent, if my decision or vote has a direct impact pecuniary or non, I should excuse myself from the vote.
5. In the voter’s own words, please identify the most difficult-to-answer question that you’ve been asked in your campaign.
I haven’t been asked a difficult to answer question, other than number 7 below.
6. Please explain why this question was the most difficult-to-answer.
[See below]
7. On October 21, 2020, Council voted unanimously to deny a rezoning application from Picton Terminals to bring in container and cruise ships. If presented with a similar vote today, how would you vote (deny or approve)? Why?
Without understanding the benefits or detriments, I cannot give a yes or no answer. I know that tourism is a big part of The County and cruise ships would add visitors. That said, if we don’t have the manpower to service these visitors, it all goes for naught.
Responses to Invitation 3
Candidates received Invitation 3 on September 7, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by September 12, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on September 14, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. Please rate your overall satisfaction with each of the following strategic initiatives:
| Strategic Initiative | Very dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Neither | Satisfied | Very satisfied |
| By-law and policy review | |
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| Downtown revitalization | |
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| Healthcare initiatives | |
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| Municipal Accommodation Tax | |
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| PEC Affordable Housing Corp. | |
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| Short-Term Accommodations | |
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| Tourism management | |
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| Understanding Growth and Water/wastewater infrastructure | |
2. Please explain two of your ratings.
PEC Affordable Housing Corp.
8 years ago they talked about this. Should have torn down the old arena in Wellington and developed the abandoned schools in Bloomfield and Picton. What did they do … hired another Executive Director. There is no affordable housing in the county.
Understanding growth and water/wastewater infrastructure
Poor planning. Sorry for the ones who have to pay. So I would say that I am disappointed.
3. Please outline one County-wide strategic initiative that is missing from the above and should be adopted by Council.
Homelessness
Homeless people in THIS county. We should be ashamed.
Bill Tkach
1. Please rate your overall satisfaction with each of the following strategic initiatives:
| Strategic Initiative | Very dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Neither | Satisfied | Very satisfied |
| By-law and policy review | |
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| Downtown revitalization | |
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| Healthcare initiatives | |
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| Municipal Accommodation Tax | |
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| PEC Affordable Housing Corp. | |
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| Short-Term Accommodations | |
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| Tourism management | |
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| Understanding Growth and Water/wastewater infrastructure | |
2. Please explain two of your ratings.
If I can be frank, my “neither dissatisfied nor satisfied” response to many initiatives is a result of not being personally affected by them. I believe the role of council is to collect the information, understand it and create the initiatives. My rating their efforts would be unqualified at the present time. These strategic initiatives are very important to the development of The County and if their progress isn’t moving quickly enough for constituents, then it may be time to bring new, fresh voices to council.
By-law and policy review
I have read many developments and/or decisions reported in our local papers and my first reaction was that there is a basic logic missing from decisions. We cannot stop the vibrant growth in The County, nor should we want to. What we need is to provide clear and effective management to ensure benefit to both the “old” and the “new”.
Healthcare initiatives
Steps have been taking with the hiring of a doctor recruiter and kudos for a step in the right direction. As someone who’s doctor retired 4 years ago, I have a personal interest. In speaking with a representative from Ontario Health Care Connect, one new family doctor in The County would relieve the current backlog we are faced with. The task isn’t monumental.
3. Please outline one County-wide strategic initiative that is missing from the above and should be adopted by Council.
Going back to being frank and transparent, I cannot outline a strategic initiative that is missing. My answer is two-fold; first, I retired recently from my career in the financial industry which held a majority off my focus and second, I have not spoken with enough of my constituents to learn all their issues and concerns.
Invitation 2
Candidates received Invitation 2 on August 31, 2022 and were asked to forward their responses by September 6, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on September 7, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. Please identify two internal and one external committee or board listed above whose areas of municipal responsibility would showcase your skills and interests in municipal government.
- Heritage Advisory Committee
- Planning Committee
- Quinte Waste Solutions
2. For these three committees or boards, please highlight your skills and experience (work, volunteer, life) in those areas of municipal responsibility.
3. For these three committees or boards, please describe the impact you’d hope to make in those areas of municipal responsibility.
Heritage Advisory Committee
I was formerly chairman of both the county and the Ameliasburgh Museum Boards. Impact: Make sure our history both physically and verbally are not erased by the few who try to rewrite the past.
Planning Committee
Good planning is required and I was on the planning board in ameliasburgh and we had an approved official plan long before any rural municipality including the county had one. Impact: Quick response for development with good intentions. Save farmland from disappearing. Develop within the existing hamlets and towns with existing services.
Quinte Waste Solutions
Instrumental in buying for Ameliasburgh the present waste site so we would have a controlled solution for all refuse in the township. Impact: Make sure we don’t make mistakes in our waste policy so we end up having to buy our way out of disposing.
4. How would you account for these rates of voter turnout in the County in recent municipal elections?
Lack of interest. Never hear from a councillor for 4 years. The ones who don’t vote if confronted will say don’t blame me I didn’t vote for the gang who have made a mess and raising taxes every year.
5. Please relate an occasion when you (nearly) decided not to vote in an election.
Never.
6. How would you propose to work with other candidates to increase voter turnout in the County in the upcoming municipal election?
Candidates only want to get more votes than me to get elected. I think in North and South Marysburgh you can get elected with 300 votes. In Ameliasburgh you need 1000. I have never seen an ad saying get out and vote.
Bill Tkach
1. Please identify two internal and one external committee or board listed above whose areas of municipal responsibility would showcase your skills and interests in municipal government.
- Audit Committee
- Traffic Committee
- Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation
2. For these three committees or boards, please highlight your skills and experience (work, volunteer, life) in those areas of municipal responsibility.
Audit Committee
I will bring 25 plus years in the financial industry to the committee. I have managed forecasting, budgets and costs while understanding the need for focussed spending.
Traffic Committee
I have planned, developed, managed and executed national sales strategies and can bring this ability to logically review the information and offer solutions to complex problems.
Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation
There is vibrant growth in The County, and it requires clear, effective management. I would rely on the negotiating skills I possess to work with developers to create affordable housing.
3. For these three committees or boards, please describe the impact you’d hope to make in those areas of municipal responsibility.
I would hope that my innovative thinking and ability to use common sense to make timely, rational decisions would have an impact on the committees.
4. How would you account for these rates of voter turnout in the County in recent municipal elections?
I think the problem may be two-fold – first, voters may not know the importance of municipal government or the role that it plays; second, and sadly, voters may feel it is the sale old, same old and that nothing really changes, and their vote does not have any affect.
5. Please relate an occasion when you (nearly) decided not to vote in an election.
I have always voted. Not only is it a civic duty, but I’ve also always believed that if you do not vote, your voice cannot be heard.
6. How would you propose to work with other candidates to increase voter turnout in the County in the upcoming municipal election?
We could provide more information through various venues; your websites are good examples; printed material in our local papers is another. The County could advertise upcoming elections with signs. And as elected officials it is our responsibility to make a difference, demonstrating that their votes do make a difference.
Invitation 1
Candidates received Invitation 1 on August 24, 2022 and were asked to share their thoughts by August 29, 2022. Candidate responses were published here and on Facebook on August 31, 2022.
Respondents
Paul Boyd
1. How long have you resided in the County?
Since 1962.
1b. (Additional question for candidates for Ward Councilor only): How long have you resided in the Ward in which you are running to be Councilor?
Since 1962.
2. Please identify your membership on Council, committee, commission, board, or other body associated with the municipal government in the County during the current term of Council (Fall 2018 – present).
NA.
3. Please identify your membership on Council, committee, commission, board, or other body associated with the municipal government in the County during the previous term of Council (Fall 2014 – Fall 2018).
NA.
4. Please identify your membership or volunteering in a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization associated with the County during the current term of Council (November 2018 – present).
None.
5. How do you understand talk of tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County?
Not aware of any in my circle of friends or people met.
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements:
6a. Tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County influences Council’s agenda. [Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree]
6b. Tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County influences Council’s decisions. [Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree]
7. Please identify any role you see yourself in addressing any tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County.
If any I am a good mediator experience from my job.
Bill Tkach
1. How long have you resided in the County?
This is my 10th summer. My wife and I moved to The County in June 2013.
1b. (Additional question for candidates for Ward Councilor only): How long have you resided in the Ward in which you are running to be Councilor?
Since June 2013.
2. Please identify your membership on Council, committee, commission, board, or other body associated with the municipal government in the County during the current term of Council (Fall 2018 – present).
Brand new to politics, recently retired from the financial industry.
3. Please identify your membership on Council, committee, commission, board, or other body associated with the municipal government in the County during the previous term of Council (Fall 2014 – Fall 2018).
None.
4. Please identify your membership or volunteering in a not-for-profit, non-governmental oganization associated with the County during the current term of Council (November 2018 – present).
None.
5. How do you understand talk of tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County?
Perhaps I may be fortunate, I haven’t experienced tension with “old” residents.
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements:
6a. Tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County influences Council’s agenda. [Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree]
6b. Tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County influences Council’s decisions. [Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither disagree or agree | Agree | Strongly agree]
7. Please identify any role you see yourself in addressing any tension between “old” and “new” residents in the County.
Having not experienced tension between “old” and “new” it is difficult to identify a role. I would hope that personal experiences in my career will afford me the opportunity to mediate such circumstances.