Contenders vie for mayor's chain

John Rodriguez told a crowd at his newly-opened campaign offices Sept. 9 he is ready to fight for a second term of office. He has a long list of challengers including councillor Ted Callaghan and former city employee Marianne Matichuk.

“Though we have not attained everything we wished to do (when first elected), we have accomplished a great deal,” Rodriguez said. “The past four years have given us great momentum. We are a city in motion.”

He cited several examples of changes during his term, including the end of long-distance charges in the outlying areas of Greater Sudbury, $10 million allocated to the downtown's school of architecture during the next 10 years, a $170 million investment in road rehabilitation, and the support for redeveloping the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre at Bell Park now underway by Tribury Construction of Sudbury.

When asked about the sale of the St. Joseph's hospital, Rodriguez said he had no interest in spending taxpayer's money to buy the building. He said it didn't make sense to spend taxpayers' money to tear it down and turn the property into parkland.

His wife of 49 years, Bertilla, said she supports her husband's run for a second term of office.

“It is what he loves,” she said. “How could I hold him back?”

Rodriguez said stimulating local business ventures was a high priority and mentioned he had listened to various business leaders who said cutting red tape at city hall would ensure development projects moved more quickly.

“We have worked with the Chamber of Commerce on this,” he said. “They are coming out with a report with recommendations that would provided businesses with a one-stop shopping attitude at city hall. Instead of having to see multiple officials and departments, they could be routed to one person.”

Marianne Matichuk, the latest challenger to Rodriguez, said eliminating red tape at city hall was a priority for her as well.

She worked for the the City of Greater Sudbury for 17 years, recently as a health and safety officer. She announced her candidacy at Tom Davies Square Sept. 9.

She said Rodriguez has promised a lot but has not delivered. On her website, she said front line workers at the city needed to be empowered to serve the public better.

“(Rodriguez) is a good story-teller,” she said. “But we don't need stories. We need action.”

The way to change the way Greater Sudbury does business is to create incentives that attract new business as well as aggressively market the city as a “diverse economic engine and a great place to live,” she said.

Providing core city services — water, parks and recreation, roads, policing, fire protection and libraries — are the priority for mayoral candidate Ted Callaghan.

He said money for city services may become scarce in the near future.

The Ward 8 city councillor and finance committee chief opened his campaign office Sept. 8 in the Montrose Mall on Lasalle Boulevard in New Sudbury.

“The federal provincial stimulus money is over,” he said. “In 2011 and 2012, we could lose $8 to $10 million per year in senior government funding we are used to getting through program like the gas tax.”

He also said he is concerned about a portion of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), a provincial funding program that is geared toward municipalities.

A part of the fund the city applies for each year, worth about $5 million, is never guaranteed.

“I sensed last year they would come through for that money and they did,” Callaghan said. “But I am not so sure about this year.”

Though he said city council has to fight to hold on to its funding sources, he thinks the city has to prepare for the worst.

“I believe the new city council will have to look at its beliefs about what core services we want to keep,” he said. “This is fundamental stuff. We have to make sure we can finance them and stay focused on them.”

Key to that will be public consultations, he said.

“We have to have a real debate in the community.”

Callaghan criticized Rodriguez for wasting money on the proposed performing arts centre and multi-pad sports complex.

“We wasted two years of staff time and $450,000 in consulting fees on these two projects,” he said. “These are hard numbers. I can prove that.”

Members of several unions were present at the Rodriguez campaign office opening, including Rick Bertrand and John Fera, the current and past presidents of United Steelworkers Local 6500.

Fera said Rodriguez will receive support in all areas of the city, including the outlying areas.

“I have know him a long time,” Fera said. “He has been known as a hard worker whether as a teacher, as a federal member of parliament or as mayor.”

For more information on the Rodriguez campaign, phone 705-674-5555, or visit www.JohnRodriguez.ca.

For more information on the Matichuk campaign, visit www.RealChangeNow.ca.

For more information on the Callaghan campaign, phone 705-507-7884, or visit www.TedCallaghan.ca.