The fact he lives in the Valley and not in Ward 12 doesn't mean he can't properly serve residents, says council hopeful Shawn Ouimet.
“I have been constantly asked if I am from the area,” Ouimet writes in a news release.
He was born and raised in Ward 12, he said, went to school at Lasalle and Cambrian, and bought his first house in the ward, he adds.
“My family live(s) in the ward, my business and clients are in the ward, but no I do not live in the ward. I currently live in the Valley, an 11-minute drive to the Lasalle-Notre Dame intersection following the speed limit.”
But he knows the area, and it would be easy for residents to reach him through “telephone, email, social media, smoke signal.
“Would I not be able to use the same resources to talk to residences of the Ward 12 that (incumbent Joscelyne Landry-Altmann) is currently using?”
Full text of Ouimet's release:
Since the incumbent continues to remind all that are concerned of my current residence.
I have been constantly asked if I am from the area and I explain I am born and raised in Ward 12, I went to school at Lasalle and Cambrian, owned my first house in Ward 12, my family live in the ward, my business and clients are in the ward, but no I do not live in the ward. I currently live in the Valley, an 11-minute drive to the Lasalle-Notre Dame intersection following the speed limit.
I also pose the question back as to where the incumbent lives (Flour Mill) so how does she know the going-ons and problems that happen in New Sudbury, Flour Mill or Minnow Lake, because each neighbour has a different concern. We are in an information age there are many ways to reach me ... telephone, email, social media, smoke signal. Would I not be able to use the same resources to talk to residences of the Ward 12 that she is currently using?
Robert Kirwin does not live in his ward yet connects with members of his ward. There are two acclaimed councillors and they have wards much larger and diverse areas then Ward 12, yet they have been successful in working with all members of their respective wards.
I believe I bring a unique perspective than the incumbent not living in the ward, as there would be no favoritism because I don’t live in one section, so I will not focus more time to that section versus the entire ward, much like when I coached hockey I never had my child or friends on the team so each player was treated equally and decisions were made for the best of the team. And that’s what you can expect from me accomplishing, working for all members of Ward 12 and Greater Sudbury.
