CANDIDATE PROFILES: Yarmouth town council

Voters will head to the polls Saturday for the municipal elections. The Yarmouth Vanguard sent letters to all of the candidates who are running in the Oct. 18 municipal election and asked them to supply us with their top three election issues. Most of the candidates responded, and in the Vanguard we ran the candidate profiles for Yarmouth town council, Yarmouth municipal council and the Tri-County Regional School Board.

Charles Crosby and Phil Mooney are running for the position of mayor. Interviews with each candidate appeared previously on NovaNewsNow.com.



The following are the profiles for Yarmouth town council:



NAME: BYRON BOUDREAU

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Widen Starrs Road to four lanes. I support the traffic study of October 2001. This will alleviate the congestion created in the residential areas and allow for the correcting of the truck route.

2. Transportation: Increase operations of public transit by further coverage, hours and days of operation. Priority attention should be given to further development of the Yarmouth airport facility.

3. Immediate attention to the development of a business plan and its implementation for the revitalization of the downtown business district, which will directly relate to employment.

Contact information: 902-881-2435 (home)





NAME: CLIFFORD HOOD

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Managing the town’s finances in a manner that will fund the gap between federal and provincial government fixed income sources to enable the fuel bank to assist our most needy fixed income seniors and others with heating costs this winter.

2. Proceeding immediately with the completion of the YMCA re-development.

3. Proceeding to create a site selection committee composed of not more than ten and not fewer than eight community leaders, and funding for the committee, to engage a consultant to select a site for a new performing arts center to be located in the downtown or waterfront.

Contact information:

Cliffhood@canada.com

(902) 742- 9171





NAME: DANIEL MACISAAC

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. People want good value for their tax dollars. Council must review spending and ensure our tax system is fair for families, encourages growth and allows everyone to live safely in their own homes.

2. Yarmouth needs a strong, accountable promoter for new industry and jobs. We must eliminate road blocks to growth and sell Yarmouth as an affordable place for business.

3. We can’t seize new opportunities with old thinking. Town council must change how it deals with your tax dollars and your issues. The only way to make a positive change is to vote for new faces on council.

Contact information:

(902) 742-8740





NAME: ESTHER DARES

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Enhancing our ability to increase economic growth and stimulate investment through downtown revitalization, airport development, maintaining our built heritage, and continued focus on the eight categories of the Communities In Bloom initiative.

2. Establishing successful partnerships, regionally and with other levels of government and the private sector, which will allow for affordable community development such as our Mariners Centre, Justice Centre, waterfront, etc.

3. Continued investment in active transportation, recreational facilities, such as development of Broad Brook Park for passive and active pursuits, establishing a fully accessible, “boundless” play area, and other quality of life issues.

Contact information:

12 Vancouver St.,

Phone: 902-742-2387

e-mail: harboursedge@ns.sympatico.ca





NAME: JOHN RYAN

Community of residence: Town of Yarmouth

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1.Build on relationships with our municipalities to work together when times require the support, all working for the same goals, growth and prosperity.

2. Building on the resources within the town, for one Yarmouth.

3.Strengthen working relationships with our business owner’s, discuss and work through issues important to the citizens.

Contact information:

902-742-0276 office, 902-742-4625 Fax

john@ryan-ins.com

www.ryan4town.com



NAME: KEN LANGILLE

Community of residence: Carleton St., Yarmouth

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Downtown revitalization: We have a beautiful community and with a little imagination, some innovative ideas, and support and encouragement from our town, our Main Street from Milton to the golf course can thrive once again.

2. Shrinking tax base: Yarmouth residents pay high property and business taxes partly to compensate for some properties that are exempt. Exemptions are needed for our museums and cultural facilities, but not for commercial properties. The tax base needs a thorough review.

3. Proactive versus reactive: Our town has reacted to issues such as closures and the transfer of service industries. We need a council to have the vision to be proactive, to see what problems are looming, rather than reacting to them after it is too late.

Contact information:

(902) 742-8700



NAME: MARTHA CASSIDY

Candidate for: Yarmouth town councillor

Top three election issues:

1. More open communication to keep the public informed about Town matters.

2. Review all trash collection schedules to keep the Town looking better and consider how to improve the appearance, or use, of vacant lots.

3. Implement a long-term plan to renew Town streets and begin the process of improving access to public buildings for those using walkers, strollers or wheelchairs.

Contact Information: (902)742-7650

www.marthacassidy.com

marthanne@eastlink.ca





NAME: MARTIN PINK

Community of residence: Yarmouth

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. To encourage and support economic development, thus increasing employment opportunities and broadening the tax base.

2. Transportation including the airport, ferry and transit.

3. Working with all levels of government and other partners to grow the town’s infrastruction, ie: the YMCA and Th’YARC.

Contact information:

Home: (902) 742-7474

Office: (902) 742-9224

Cell: (902) 749-6855

Email: m.pink@ns.sympatico.ca





NAME: MURRAY JUDGE

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Three three election issues:

1. Optimal and orderly development around the new justice centre: The new justice centre will soon open, and development in the surrounding neighbourhood(s) is sure to follow: this is an opportunity to make sound decisions to help the south end of town flourish.

2. Support for the new YMCA: This project is "in the works" as they say and, much like the justice centre, helps the town help the central business district by supporting this important new infrastructure.

3. Support for the new arts centre: This project is coming: see # 1 and # 2.

Contact information:

(902) 742 - 0383

murrayjudge@eastlink.ca



NAME: NEIL MACKENZIE

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council.

Top three election issues:

1. Yarmouth needs to place jobs and industry as its first priority. We have infrastructure and people, but we need to do much more to make this town more attractive for new business and industry. Barriers to business growth and development must be removed by taking a close look at signage bylaws and other restrictive resolutions that impede business.

2. Taxes need to be evaluated and we need to make sure we are getting real value for every tax dollar. Our tax dollars should be used for infrastructure improvements, new programs, special events and spent locally. Too much of our money is flowing out of Yarmouth. Products and services that are available here must be utilized to improve the economic development and sustainability of our community.

3. We need to do a better job supporting the people who live and work in Yarmouth. Families, seniors and youth all need support whether through cleaner, safer streets, more funding for parks and recreation and more events and facilities for our youth. The people of Yarmouth deserve more.

Contact information:

www.neilmackenziefortowncouncil.ca



NAME: THERESA DALTON

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Youth: To work with the young people as they are the next generation and our future.

2. Jobs: They are important to our youth and our economy. Yarmouth needs to become a place where young people can live and bring up their families.

3. Tourism: We need to work with the federal and provincial governments to ensure that we have the transportation to bring more tourists to our town. This is an important industry that has been on the decline.

Contact information:

(902) 742-7798



NAME: WALLY STRICKLAND

Candidate for: Yarmouth town council

Top three election issues:

1. Maintaining, improving and supporting our infrastructure to attract industry for economical development. Some areas at present include the airport, YMCA, Th’YARC, transportation, walk-in medical clinic, tourism industry and affordable housing.

2. Communications with residents to keep residents informed on council projects and to hear from residents and their ideas through newsletters and town hall meetings to encourage community participation.

3. There are residents on low fixed incomes who need help with high energy costs so we need to support the fuel bank more than we do at present to keep our residents comfortable.

Contact information: 902-742-8481