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Candidates for Councillor (Penetanguishene, Ward 2)

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In Penetanguishene
Oct 2nd, 2010
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Midland Mirror – October 1 2010 PENETANGUISHENE – All of the municipal candidates were offered the same opportunity to provide a 150-word statement to The Mirror.
Christopher Burns – I am eager to serve the constituents of Ward 2 in my community of Penetanguishene.
I have had a connection with Penetanguishene since I was 16 and accepted my first job at Discovery Harbour, where I worked for a decade through high school and university.
I was fortunate to be hired at PSS and have taught hundreds of students in the community over the past six years. I am a community volunteer, dedicated educator and have previous municipal experience serving as a member of Tay’s heritage committee and as chair of the Tay library board.
I want to bring enthusiasm and vigour to Penetanguishene and start the process of making it a great community.
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Anna Charron – I like honesty and will inform you that I am a political novice. I am a hard worker, a patient listener, and do have organizational skills.
I worked with my husband, the late Dr. Claude Charron, and had the opportunity and experience of listening, caring and working with people. I managed the office and worked with hospitals, nursing homes, health-care agencies, OHIP, Workman’s Compensation and insurance companies.
From 1974 to 2001, I was known as Dr. Charron’s wife, or Mrs. C, even though I was a registered nurse and had an honours degree in sociology.
After an early retirement in 2002, I worked as camp nurse at Camp Kitchi, did supply teaching at three schools, and worked as a teaching assistant.
Following this experience, I worked with hospice and did home and hospital visits on a volunteer basis.
I love to learn and face challenges as a journey.
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Hugh Gair – I am seeking your support and vote to promote CHANGE.
C — Cost efficiency. Where is our money going?
  — Children. Our youth is the future.
  — Communication improvement between council and the people.
H — Helping our downtown merchants without going out of town for purchases.
  — Hockey – just one sport that is not affordable for all.
A — Available funds from our governments to assist improvements in roads, water, sewers and parks.
N — Not to increase taxes, but to better services. We need to prioritize what is best for our people and our community.
G — Getting rid of the existing ward system, enabling the citizens to vote for whomever.
E — Education. Keeping our schools here.
  — Enabling industry to stay, survive and grow.
  — Experiencing what I have gained through sitting on other town councils, non-profit organizations, business owner.A Vote 4 Hugh is a Vote 4 U.
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Jimmy Martin – I am a life-long resident of Penetanguishene and have always had an interest in the affairs of this community.
In the early 1980s, I began my political career serving three terms as an elected official of the now-defunct Penetanguishene Water and Light Commission. I was first elected to town council in 1988, and served a three-year term to 1991.
Due to study and work commitments, I took a 17-year hiatus from town council until 2008, when I was appointed by the present council to fill the vacancy following the death of Coun. O’Hara.
Even during this long hiatus, I served on the now-defunct waterfront park committee and the Penetanguishene library board, and always maintained my interest in town affairs.
Now that I am retired, I have the experience and the time to go along with the keen interest to continue on town council.
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Michel Mayotte – My name is Michel Mayotte, but you probably know me as Mike from the licence bureau in Penetanguishene for 23 years. I currently work in the Midland licence bureau.
For 10 years, I participated as part of the executive with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Licence Issuers Association. I was also the president of the Huronia Bingo Association. For six years, I was grand knight for the Knights of Columbus. Presently, I am involved with La Seve and Caldec.
Four years ago, I decided to get more involved with my community as a councillor.  I really enjoy learning the many aspects there are to running a municipality.
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to drop in and share their interests and concerns. I appreciate your input, as it helps me better represent you.
In the next four years, I am eager to complete ongoing projects and jump into new ones.
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Dennis McEntee – A resident of Penetanguishene for more than 10 years, Dennis is committed to strengthening our community.
He wants a council that engages the views and opinions of its citizens with openness and transparency.Dennis has a wealth of business and leadership experience, having held senior management positions with the LCBO, Ontario Hydro, the Ministry of Health and leading industrial firms.
A strong community supporter, Dennis has volunteered as chair of the Penetanguishene Museum board, the economic development committee, and the Simcoe County Association for the Physically Disabled.
He is also a director of Zero Waste Simcoe, an organization committed to reducing waste and eliminating the need for future landfills in Simcoe County.
Dennis believes building community pride includes a strong voice for youths, seniors, local businesses and merchants. In the past two years, he has played a major role in helping start more than 30 new businesses in our area.
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Anne Murphy – I was born and raised in Penetanguishene.  My late husband and I raised our two daughters here, and I am the grandmother of three beautiful children. I am retired from the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre.
The most important duty of a councillor is to listen to the concerns of the ratepayers and let their needs drive the agenda. Parents of teenagers have been telling me they want a high school, here in town, for their children. I will continue to lobby the provincial government to make that happen.
Seniors tell me they need an accessible and convenient location to have blood work performed. I will strive to forge a partnership with an independent company to bring that service back to Penetanguishene.
Many people have questions about the divestiture of the town dock, and I will work on your behalf to preserve this historic and panoramic heart of our town.
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Daryl O’Shea – I’ve had an interest in politics since an early age. While studying engineering at McMaster University, I took a few political science courses that I found very interesting.
After university, I went to work for the Township of Tay, where I have had the opportunity to see the good and bad of local politics and government firsthand.
Along the way, I have also had the opportunity to learn about local business via my family’s Penetanguishene manufacturing businesses. I have also had the good fortune to see firsthand how a small number of people working together toward a common goal – the Apache SpamAssassin spam filter used by millions all over the globe – can make a huge difference in people’s lives.
As a Penetanguishene town councillor, I can’t wait to apply my skills and knowledge to cause positive results in the town I grew up in and love.
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Jamie Robitaille – I have been a resident of Penetanguishene my entire life. My wife, Nadine, and I are proud to have raised our children Jacob and Olivia here.Penetanguishene’s future is important to me and I have therefore decided to run for council. I believe I can bring a new perspective and energy to the issues we are facing, and am now able to commit the time, energy and experience required.
I have volunteered for the past two decades with groups such as the Lions Club and Diabetes Association, helping with fundraising and organization of events.
I am proud of my role in the makeover of the palliative-care rooms at the former PGH.
I am well known for my dedication to minor hockey as a previous coach, OMHA contact and previous president.
I look forward to the upcoming campaign and the opportunity to speak to individuals about their concerns.
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Brad Saunders – I want to make a positive difference for my community.
I have a track record of delivering results. While other candidates make promises, I have delivered. As your trustee on the public school board, I have:
•  led to fight to keep PSS open;
•  fought hard to get multimillion-dollar upgrades to all public schools in Penetanguishene (James Keating and PSS) and Midland.
Your children learn in clean, safe, technologically advanced schools second to none.
A main reason I am running, however, is to re-establish the bond between council and the average man/woman on the street. Many feel that council does not listen – for example, the debate over Site 41. I listen.
I hear from many who believe that not enough care is shown in watching over the spending of our tax dollars. I watch.
In conclusion, can I be an effective councillor for the people of Penetanguishene? I can.

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