First, I want to start by expressing my thanks.
Thank you, Sean, for moderating tonight’s event. Thank you, Karen and the Library, and Heather and the volunteers and staff of the Legion, for hosting us this evening, and thank you to all of you here in the audience for taking the time to come out tonight on this rainy evening to make a difference in our community.
That is why I am here – because I want to make a difference in our community, and I believe the best way I can make a difference is by running for Mayor. This is not a decision I took lightly. I was approached last winter by a number of members of the community asking if I would consider running for Mayor. I thought about it carefully and my decision to run really comes down to three reasons, which I am happy to share with you. But first, I want to assure you that I’ll try to be brief, because no one wants to hear a Politician talk longer than needed!
So why am I running?
First, like many of you, I grew up here and it is here that I learned the value of hard work and the importance of community and good Neighbours. My roots run deep here. Madawaska Valley Township has been my family’s home for 5 generations. Why is this important? When a place is your home, you have a vested interest in taking good care of it.
The Prince family was one of the original twelve families to settle in this area. My forefather contributed to our community in many ways:
- The first general store
- The first drug store
- And contrary to popular belief, the first steam powered Sawmill in the Ottawa Valley, even before Murray Brothers!
I feel called to follow in my forefathers’ footsteps and serve this community.
Madawaska Valley Township is a great place to live, work and play. A place I am proud to call home. I place I would like to see thrive for generations to come. I believe running for Mayor is the best way I can contribute to taking care of this place we all call home.
The 2nd reason I am running.
I believe strong leadership is required for the role of Mayor and I believe I have the Leadership, governance, and business skills for the job. I enjoyed a 35-year successful business career working for multinational companies like IBM, Bell Canada, Altus Group, GE Capital, to name a few, leading large, diverse teams of over 100 people, tasked with problem solving and delivering profitable business solutions to a wide variety of issues. What is most relevant here is that I worked with every municipality in the Province of Ontario. My job was to help municipalities find solutions to manage their infrastructure projects – roads, bridges, water, and wastewater.
An example of one of my major projects that showcases my leadership, initiative and business acumen is related to all the bridge construction currently underway in the province. How many of you remember when bridges collapsed in Quebec a few years back? I'm sure many of you remember reading about that. The Auditor General’s report criticized the province for not having a method to prioritize repair work of the 14,000 bridge structures in Ontario. My team and I approached the Ministry of Transportation with a solution on how to inventory, assess and prioritize which bridges were in need of repair. The Ministry gladly accepted our proposed software solution, and this is still in use today.
I'll share another example of a large-scale project. As Director of Software and Global Business Development for The Altus Group, I designed a client management database system and implemented the global roll out of the new system across 1,700 employees in 55 offices through 11 countries.
As a Business coach and Mentor, I have taken teams from underperforming to ranking tops in North America. While at London life I took my team from 212th to 5th in the country within 18 months. While at GE Capital my team finished first out of 8 regions in North America.
My leadership Style is open, transparent, 'servant leadership'. To put this another way, its leadership serving others – empowering everyone on the team to be their best. As a Leadership Consultant with Various Think Tanks Including IBM’s Venture Labs, I have mentored and coached many young Entrepreneurs.
I also have years of experience in governance. As Chair of the Advisory Board to George Brown College, which included representation from IBM, Bell Canada, Bank of Montreal, and Deloitte, we advised the college on what was needed in the way of skill sets in the corporate world to help the college design business courses to match the market need.
After my father passed of heart disease, I volunteered with the Heart and Stroke foundation for many years and became a strong advocate for hospice care. I became a Board Member for Durham Hospice and Chair of the Advocacy Committee. In this role, I sourced funding opportunities and promoted the services of Durham Hospice.
As President and Founder of 100 Men Who Care, I established a group of men who met quarterly to choose a non-profit organization within the community that we could collectively provide financial support to.
Why is this important? Because a good Mayor, like a good leader has good business sense, strong can-do attitude, a heart that gives back to the community, vision to see a better future and empowers those around them.
Finally, the 3rd reason I am running for Mayor is...
Because I’m Spitting Mad that my opponent and this current council would spend $750,000 on a frivolous lawsuit to gag ‘Freedom of The Press’. I have had other Mayor’s tell me that Madawaska Valley Township is a laughingstock, the way this current council operates.
You deserve better for your hard-earned tax dollars!
I think you would agree that there is a far better use for $750,000.
- Such as investing in housing solutions for our seniors and young families
- Investing in recreation programs for our youth.
- Supporting business development with broad band internet.
- Investing in our art and culture. We have so Many talented artists and musicians who add to our tourist economy.
- Investing and protecting our natural spaces for our children and grandchildren to enjoy for generations to come.
I am about “Politics Done Differently”
If you are happy with the ways things are and want more of the same, then I am not your man.
But if you want to see progress. If you share my vision for more housing options, more supports for our seniors, more recreation activities for our youth, more supports for art and culture and business, and protection of our natural spaces then vote for me.
I have the desire and drive to make a difference.
I have the skill set and experience to lead with common sense in a financially responsible way.
I am about fresh ideas that are fiscally responsible and benefit the whole community.
AND...
I have a much better plan for your hard-earned tax dollars.
As the proud father of four wonderful sons and eight grandchildren and with the full support of my loving partner Kelly, I would be humbled and honoured to serve you as the next Mayor of Madawaska Valley Township.
Thank you
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