Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral candidates meet

By Miriam King Bradford Times

It was standing room only for the first “All Candidates” Meeting, organized by the Bradford Board of Trade and Holland Marsh Growers’ Association, and held upstairs at the old Bradford Arena, September 29.

The meeting was for Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral candidates only, who were each invited by moderator Jamie Reaume, Executive Director of the HMGA, to present a brief statement of their platform, before facing questions from the Board and the audience.

Running for Mayor are incumbent Doug White, current Deputy Mayor Rob Keffer, and businessman Hernan Burgos. Deputy Mayoral candidates are Carl Hordyk and James Leduc, both currently members of Council.

It was for the most part a polite crowd, although partisan – with some rows cheering the answers of their candidate.

And there were some “planted” questions, obviously submitted by one campaign or another – which had the positive benefit of clearing the air, and allowing the candidates to openly address what otherwise might have been rumour or innuendo.

There was the question of “party affiliation”, and whether the Mayoral candidates, if elected, would serve the full 4 year term, or jump ship to try for a seat in an upper tier of government. All three Mayoral candidates said they would be committed to serving the full 4-year term.

A query regarding a “proposed $50 million administration building” brought a sharp retort from Doug White. “Fifty million is ridiculous – it’s more than our Leisure Centre. It’s a number I’ve never heard of before. It’s complete fiction…. A 55,000 sq. ft. building? Nowhere near $50 million.” He added, “At some point we’re going to need a consolidated administration centre. We’re in 7 buildings… This next term of Council? Probably not.”

And a question regarding “Conflict of Interest” allowed Keffer to explain that, although his family owns land on the 5th Line, none of it is in the area of the Hwy. 400 Employment lands or the planned 5th Line Interchange, and legal opinion has been that there is no conflict.

“I will not be bullied or intimidated not to speak up… I have always acted with integrity,” he said.

Keffer also took the opportunity offered in the opening remarks to clarify his position on the Family Health Centre at 100 Holland Court, which he has consistently voted against in Council. He said he was proud of the success of the centre, “while I didn’t agree with the poor budgeting model pushed through by the Mayor.”

And while he acknowledged, “Together our Town Council has done many good things…. It’s not one person that moves our Town forward, it’s a group effort,” he took every opportunity to challenge incumbent White on his record.

Candidates were asked how they would attract new Industrial development to Town – and ensure that the Hwy. 400 employment lands won’t be converted to Residential.

James Leduc: “We need to push the province to keep manufacturing in Ontario. We need jobs here. My promise: to work with the province, work with the County to bring jobs to BWG.”

Carl Hordyk: “We need jobs at the 400… to keep workers here rather than commute. We need to grow our tax base so we can make our Town more affordable.”

Doug White: “Our most valuable asset (is) serviced industrial land at the 400. Residential? Never!… I want some of those jobs to come here, so we have the flexibility to improve our lives. Jobs, employment, tax revenue.”

Rob Keffer: “ I have a faster and more economical plan to get jobs to the 400: take the sewers to 88… The One problem with the 5th Line interchange is it’s $200 million in infrastructure.” (Note: includes all costs, including bringing servicing to Bond Head).

Hernan Burgos: “We have to be creative,” focusing on what is available including road networks, proximity to the GTA, the availability of IT and fibre optics. “There are a lot of ways to bring businesses to Town, not just coffee shops and pizza shops.”

All of the candidates agreed that Seniors’ housing should be a priority.

Carl Hordyk: “I’d like to see another Miller Park, maybe 2, maybe 3. I’d like to see condominiums, apartments. Seniors are part of the economy… My mother is my own motivator, to see something done.”

Doug White: “Our residents want an affordable lifestyle community right here… When people downsize their home, they want equity.” He suggested the Town could be “proactive” and partner with developers, perhaps to provide land for housing “at a price point people are willing to pay.”

Rob Keffer: “Over four years, nothing seems to be built. It’s up to the Mayor and the Council to make it a priority – reach out to entrepreneurs. Make it easier for them to build, smooth the red tape for them. Developers have land; unfortunately it’s more profitable for them to build Single Family Residential. We have to draw that line in the sand”: no more water units, until they build affordable housing.

Hernan Burgos: “I have seen Senior-Abled Housing”, in locations that include Palm Springs and France, an idea he suggested could be brought to Bradford. “We have choices to do, and we’ll do them.”

James Leduc: “It’s my #1 issue. I’ve heard some great plans here, but no action… If we wait for the developers to do it, they’re not going to do it. We need to make it a major issue.”

There was disagreement over the debt load facing the Town, with Keffer calling it a “deficit”, and White insisting that the municipality is well within its Debt cap, as set by the province.

One key question posed to the candidates: How do you plan to find savings in the budget, and keep taxes low?

Doug White: “We have done that… Moving forward we have been fiscally responsible.” The average tax increase has been 1.2%; this year, the increase will be 0.37%, largely due to an increase in a capital levy, for roadwork. “It’s not responsible to have 0% tax increases, and push off to other generations road repairs, etc.” He challenged other candidates to tell taxpayers “what services are going to be cut, or what user fees are going to go up. You have to be transparent and open.”

Rob Keffer: “This is about respect for taxpayers. We can do better… We’ve increased spending in this town 7.7% over the last four years. Surely we can find savings.”

Hernan Burgos: “Must be an election year… We have to bring more industry to Bradford. We cannot increase Development Charges. The economy right now is very fragile… Look for efficiencies. I don’t believe in cutting services – we have more people in Town. .. Look for efficiencies, bring job-creating businesses to town.”

James Leduc: “”I will not support 0% increases – you’re just putting the inevitable off,” eventually resulting in huge hikes. “The one most important thing you need to do: scrutinize the budget, keep it under control, make sure we spend every dollar the right way.”

Carl Hordyk noted that the Police Budget increased 10% annually – until his request for an OPP Costing led to a search for efficiencies. Now, the police budget has seen an annual reduction. “I’m going to continue to look for efficiencies… New jobs, new tax assessment – that is the #1 priority.”

There was no opportunity for rebuttal, but after the meeting many residents stayed behind to talk further with the candidates.

The Board of Trade and HMGA hosted a second meeting on October 1 for the Candidates for Ward Councillor – although not all of the 22 certified candidates were able to attend.

The Bradford Times continues interviewing the Candidates, this week looking at Deputy Mayor, and Councillor Ward 6 positions, pages 14-17.