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October 9, 2014 | 80 pages
Candidates present their positions at Merrickville-Wolford meeting Kelly Kent
kkent@metroland.com
News – In what was a mostly peaceful evening at the Merrickville-Wolford all-candidates meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, each candidate running for the local council had a chance to speak to a packed room full of voters. Hosted by the local Lions Club, dozens of interested local residents turned out for the meeting, using every available chair as they waited to hear from their municipal candidates. All 10 municipal candidates were present for the meeting and had an opportunity to give both a three-minute opening speech and a two-minute closing speech. The following are highlights from each candidate’s opening speech. Chris Balicki, Merrickville Ward Chris Balicki, the first in the alphabetical list of candidates, began her speech by saying she had been going around to every house or business in Merrickville Ward to introduce herself, with great response. “Meeting with all of you has been a very exciting ride – some of you engaged me in heated debate that has lasted for more than half an hour,” she said. “Intentionally or unintentionally, you reaffirmed my decision to run.”
After spending 17 years in the community working as a writer, promoting Merrickville “unabashedly,” and working many volunteer gigs, Balicki said she wants to continue serving her community at the council table. “At the end of the day, it’s all about caring about you and this village,” she said. Balicki said she cares about families, seniors who wish to downsize and stay in their own community, and about cutting people some slack when they can’t pay their bills or have forgotten to. “(It’s about) caring about 21st century traffic entering out 19th century village,” she said. “I care, and so do, I believe, my fellow candidates. If I didn’t care I wouldn’t be running.” Anne Barr, Councillor At Large Second up to the lectern was incumbent councillor at large Anne Barr. “It seems hard to believe that it’s been four years since I stood up here and gave you my whirlwind tour of my priorities if I would become a member of council,” she began. “It’s been quite a learning curve over the last four years since being elected but I want to tell you that my experiences have taught me that the priorities I gave you four years ago remain valid today.” One of her priorities, Barr said,
is the preservation of heritage, saying she firmly believes in supporting the preservation of designated properties. Her next priority, she said, is the good management of municipal resources, such as creating fiscally responsible annual budgets and finding the correct balance of funding. Finally, she said her third priority is the promotion and enhancement of recreation programs and facilities. “We’ve seen a renewed interest in baseball in the community and the arrival of pickle ball,” she laughed. Don Halpenny, Councillor At Large A man of few words, incumbent councillor Don Halpenny was next up to give his opening speech. “Present council has made quite a few changes, but we need more,” he said. “I am asking your permission to serve for another four years.” He went on to say that the municipality needs to turn things around and focus on creating a program where people can make requests or complaints and that council will not only hear them, but address them. “I like to help people, but I don’t like to bother them,” Halpenny said in closing. “If anyone has any questions or anything, please contact
Kelly Kent/METROLAND
Local residents had a chance to hear from each of the 10 candidates running for a position on the Merrickville-Wolford council on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the All-Candidates meeting. Left, current deputy mayor Dave Nash, who is running for mayor in this year’s election, gives his opening speech. Right, Doug Struthers, the current mayor, defends his position in his opening speech. me and I’ll get them answered.” Shawn Hughes, Wolford Ward
Acclaimed Wolford Ward coun“These people up here will feed cillor Shawn Hughes, who is run- you a bunch of BS,” he said. ning for council for the first time, was next to speak. See CANDIDATES page K3
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