HawthorneVillager.com

I am sorry if this topic has been discussed before ... I tried to search for it, but couldn't get anything about it ... so thought of starting this thread. Also, I know that it is a personal choice, but I can't help decide who to vote for.

I have been living in Milton for past year and a half only, and have had no interaction with Gord Krantz todate. I hear things about current councillors, and also know a few candidates that are participating in upcoming elections, but have no idea about current Mayor or his opponent.

Please help me decide who should I vote for, and why?

Your comments/concerns will help everyone (specially me) decide on who to vote for and will help everyone (specially me) in making the final - educated decision about this important post in our community.

Too bad that Mr. Krantz doesn't post here, otherwise, he could have put something about himself.

Gerry, I know you post here and frequent the forums, so please tell us all, why should we vote for you?

You should vote for me because Milton needs a strong leader who will challenge staff and council on their recommendations/decisions.

If you go to any council meeting you will find that far too much dependency is placed on staff, solicitor, and developer recommendations in deciding what action to take. Don't get me wrong, I believe in getting advice from professionals but I never see any real challenge made to the recommendations. If you read any current survey there are wonderful objectives stated but no one seems to ask what element of the proposed plan is there to actually meet the objective(s). Council needs to provide more than just guidelines for developers to follow, they need to provide rules.

We need more transparency/openness on town issues. Why doesn't Milton have a web site like Fort Collins the US city that Andrew Salmons posted about listing all town expenses? Why aren't votes recorded so we can find out how our representatives voted on a particular issue? Why aren't council meetings web casted?

How hard is the town really lobbying for expansion of the hospital, completion of regional and provincial infrastructure requirements (roads ...)? I think more needs to be done on this.

We need better communication capabilities with our elected representatives. At the very least phone calls need to be returned and emails answered.

We can’t continue to do things the same old way they’ve always been done.

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

Gerry, where do you stand on some of the issues raised like taping the meetings and having councillors more involved with using technology. Will you still post on here if you become mayor? I'd like to be able to talk to you this way if you are mayor. (sorry if you mentioned this somewhere and I did not see it).

Gerry, Thanks for posting back about your views. I agree with all the items you have listed.

What will be first couple of things you'll do or try to do after you take over the office (if you get elected)?

My view of politicians: (no offence plz) All the politicians promise different things before they are elected, but many of them slip out of those things, until the next elections or blame the previous government for leaving a mess, which will take 3-4 years to clean up, so their own agenda gets jeopardized by that.

Mebbe Milton needs 2 mayors to fully cover the job description:

- One (the ambassador) to present awards, cut ribbons, lead parades, greet visitors to the town hall, and focus on re-election.

- Another (the leader) to ensure a vision for Milton development, lead council, guide staff, represent Milton interests to senior governments, and communicate with citizens.

In my initial post I mention web casting (Internet broadcasting) of council meetings; I suppose they could be recorded as well. I also mention that each councilor's vote should be recorded on every item so we can follow how our representatives are actually representing us.

I also mention that, as a minimum, councilors should return phone calls and answer emails. If they wish to be involved in additional communications formats (blogs, forum posting, tweeting ...) I think this is, for the moment, kind of up to each individual. Using a couple of communications tools well can be more effective than using many poorly. And using all of the available tools can be quite time consuming. I'd like to see councilors spend time researching issues and making informed voting decisions.

As Mayor I will continue to follow and post on this forum.

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

First things to tackle would be the easiest to implement. Things like communication discipline and challenging of proposals; changes with little of no cost associated with them. Next would be things that give a return on investment and finally those things that may offer improved service but with a cost as well.

It is easy to say what people want to hear to get elected and then to blame others when you are unable to deliver. My intention is to push for incremental improvement in the services the town delivers to the tax payer. Look for productivity improvement and cost reduction opportunities and explore ways to generate revenue for the town other than through taxes. Sure there may be things that turn out to be more difficult to implement than expected but if people are kept informed they generally understand.

Good thing about our system of government is that if you aren't satisfied with the performance of your current elected representatives you can always vote them out in the next election.

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

I'm curious if anyone knows if our current mayor does any door knocking? I haven't heard of him being in the HVE areas at all. What about yourself Gerry, have you gotten out this way to knock doors?

I haven't made it to HVE yet. Milton is a big town when you try to cover it all on foot. I will try to get out that way before Oct. 25. If anyone wants to meet in person I'm willing to get together, just let me know. Perhaps we can organize an HVE group meeting?

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

I just like to know your trying. I'm really wondering if Krantz gets out at all. If not, that tells me about his character.

Since the last election I have become the owner of a small business located right here in Milton. I employ 8 at my store (5 adults and 3 students) excluding my son and daughter who also work with me. All but one of my employees lives, shops and pays taxes right here in Milton (one of the students goes to school in Milton but lives in Rockwood). Through my business I have made donations/contributions to the MDHF, Darling Home, Milton Christian School, Milton Seniors’ Centre, Salvation Army and others I can't remember at the moment. I sponsor a soccer team. I’m a regular blood donor.

Interestingly enough I have applied for membership on a town committee and twice for the Milton Hydro Board and was not accepted. Perhaps the establishment feels a little threatened?

You are correct, I don't have political experience but I view that as a plus. I'm not stuck in a "we've always done it this way" rut. I do have years of leadership experience in the private sector where productivity improvement and cost saving exercises are the norm, not where you can just go the trough for more money. The last 10 years of my pre-retirement job were spent developing proposals worth multi-millions of dollars covering 7 to 10 year periods where cost to the customer was expected to go down year over year.

If I was invited to cut ribbons at business openings, MC at community events and attend functions I would be pleased to go but as I'm not yet the mayor I don't get invited. Go figure.

You're also right there is no point in change for change sake but Milton needs a strong leader who will challenge staff on their recommendations, insist that council make informed decisions and encourage innovative thinking. We can't just keep doing things the way we always have.

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

this is truly a unique election as we have doubled the wards and therefore we shall have potentially over half of the council represented by first time councillors. now is clearly not the time to experiment with a new mayor. this is not a slight in any way to Gerry Marsh, but a realization that this city council will need experience and, perhaps more importantly, direction. there will be little or no time for a new mayor to learn the ropes of the job while council spins its wheels gaining experience and cohesion. moreover, there is the matter of credibility. a predominently new council led by a new mayor will have great difficulty gaining the confidence of the people, and, in this time of great change in our fair city, could end up making some grievous mistakes while they get their feet wet. this is most surely Gord's last run as mayor and, clearly, his most important term. why does everyone think that experienced politicians in this city arent running against Gord?

Good response Gerry.

Suitable for framing. Or at least preserving on your web site.

I've tried to actually reply to this thread a number of times, but I always end up reading what I've written, and not posting.

The fact is I know Gord Krantz fairly well. And I don't think I've met a politican who has more fun, or takes more pride in his job than him. And I don't know Gerry Marsh that well- but on the occasions that I met him (never really in a campaign setting), he seems likable, low-key and genuine.

I've been more focused on the ward council candidates and regional council candidates and am really now just starting to look at our mayoral candidates. I must admit I would currently lean towards the experience Gord Krantz provides but have not by any means made up my mind.

Gerry, I like you have an IT/technology background. That would help with connecting with the community as is shown by your participation here. We need more councillors to do that in this day and age.I like your ideas on transparency, but I know that's a common goal for a number of councillor prospects so I think there will be push in that direction regardless of who holds the Mayoral title.

I was wondering if you could provide more details about your managment and leadership experience on multi-million dollar/multi-year projects. I'd also like more details on your stated effectiveness at solving complex customer service issues.

Can you provide details of how you would go about "preserving the charm of Milton's urban/rural mix"? Many farms have sold out to developers. There are a few hold-outs like the Beef Bloc who are in a particularly difficult predicament as they are within the current urban boundary. I can see similar predicaments in the longer term with development to the east to accomodate Places to Grow (thinking Willis Family Fruit Farm, but don't specifically know their personal long term plans for the farm).

Also, what would you do with your Sears store business if you were elected mayor?