In Sudbury.com’s ongoing efforts to ensure you have all the information you need to make informed voting decisions in the Oct. 24 municipal election, we have reached out to candidates for ward councillor and each of them to provide responses to a short questionnaire.
Besides a photograph, we requested a response from each candidate, limited to 200 words each, under each of the following three categories:
- Tell me a bit about yourself
- Why are you seeking election?
- What are your key platform points?
In the interest of fairness, candidates’ responses have been provided in full, with only minor corrections made for clarity and grammar. In the event a candidate went over the 200-word limit per category, their response was cut off to the end of the nearest sentence. In cases where candidates did not separate their response by the three topics, they were cut off at the 600-word mark to the nearest sentence.
The photographs provided have been included in this coverage, cropped to adhere to Sudbury.com’s sizing requirements.
Candidates were sent the inquiry on Oct. 4, at which time a deadline of Oct. 9 was announced. A follow-up email to those candidates who did not respond was issued on Oct. 11 with a noon deadline the following day.
Long-time councillor Robert Kirwan is being challenged by newcomer Michel (Mike) Parent in ard 5.
Ward 5 includes a swath of Valley East surrounding the Val Caron area. It has a population of approximately 13,028 and an area of 109.8 square kilometres.
To find out whether you live in Ward 5, click here.
The following is what came in for Ward 5.
Robert Kirwan (incumbent)
Tell me a bit about yourself
My wife and I are both lifelong residents of the Greater Sudbury area. After we were married, we moved into our current home in Valley East in 1974, where we raised our three sons and have been actively involved in the community ever since. I have a B.A. degree in Mathematics and Economics from Laurentian, an M.A. in Education from Central Michigan University, and a Teaching Certificate from the North Bay Teachers’ College. I spent most of my 28-year teaching career in Valley East.
My wife and I have also operated a part-time private practice as independent business consultants since 1985. I was editor of a local publication called The Valley Vision, wrote a sports column in the Sudbury Star, an education column in Northern Life and was the marketing manager for the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. We have published a number of special interest newspapers and magazines over the years and are now focused on providing social media marketing services on Facebook. Most people who have been longtime residents of Valley East recognize me as a passionate advocate for the community of Valley East.
Why are you seeking election?
I have always been a strong supporter and promoter of Valley East. When I retired from teaching, I devoted more of my time to the marketing business my wife and I operate, but something was missing. I eventually decided to use my life experiences, skills, and knowledge in service to my community and in 2010 I successfully ran for a position as Trustee for Zone 3 of the RDSB. Zone 3 includes Wards 5 and 6. It was during those four years that I discovered the Sudbury portion of Ward 5 and I absolutely fell in love with the people living in that part of the city. I realized that not only could I provide a high degree of service to the Val Caron portion of Ward 5, but my background had also prepared me to contribute just as effectively to the quality of life of the Sudbury portion as well. I soon recognized that I could do so much more for both sections of Ward 5 as a city councillor. That was why I decided to run for City Council for the first time in 2014.
What are your key platform points?
I could provide you with a long list of major projects and initiatives that have been started in Ward 5 during the last eight years. My absolute commitment is to ensure that those projects continue to evolve for the benefit of all residents of Ward 5. That being said, my highest priority is to maintain the level of devoted personal service that residents have come to expect from me in my capacity as councillor of Ward 5. I will continue to be available on a full-time basis, during any day of the week, including weekends, at any time of the day to provide assistance, guidance and advocacy services to all of my constituents and organizations. Constituent issues may seem minor when you look at the big picture, but to the person who is having the problem, it is the most important issue of all. Whenever one of my constituents contacts me, their concern immediately becomes my top priority and I will not rest until I do everything in my power in an attempt to resolve the issue to their satisfaction. In my mind, there is no such thing as a “minor” constituency problem.
Michel (Mike) Parent
Tell me a bit about yourself
I was born and raised in Northern Ontario and have been a resident of Valley East for more than 25 years. I worked as a paramedic and as an underground miner before being promoted to management roles with mining companies. I currently serve as an executive at a not-for-profit where I am accountable for a multi-million-dollar budget and required to work with various government agencies. I completed executive training at the IMD Institute in Switzerland, Environmental Management through Royal Roads University and Ambulance and Emergency Care and Occupational Health and Safety at Cambrian College. I have volunteered in several ways in our community and most notable are with youth sports, on the Federal Minister Opioid Roundtable, with the Valley East Community Action Network and Sudbury’s Chamber of Commerce Municipal Advocacy Committee.
I am incredibly fortunate to have my best friend as my partner and I am a father to three amazing young adults, and stepfather to another three awesome young adults. We are the owners of Dexter, a Golden Retriever, and the greatest dog in the world.
Why are you seeking election?
The citizens of Ward 5 and Greater Sudbury deserve better. Like many citizens, I am feeling disillusioned with our municipal politics (def: having lost faith or trust in something formerly regarded as good). Once elected, I will flex on my values, education, and experiences to address the top concerns brought forward when meeting with literally thousands of constituents while campaigning. We are a city with great possibilities and potential and with the right leadership, we will get things done
What are your key platform points?
As a representative for the citizens of Ward 5, I will advocate for the top issues and concerns shared with me:
- Keep our city affordable – many are feeling squeezed out of their homes by perpetual increases in taxes, water and wastewater and other user fees.
- Address the “Red Tape” that is causing Sudbury to lose out on economic development because of our reputation of not being friendly to businesses.
- Continue the work started on addressing persons experience homelessness and addiction.
- Advocate for new ideas and initiatives to address the at-risk behaviours on our roads and highways.
- Work with the new mayor and council to make logical investments in municipal projects that will enhance our city.
Election day is Oct. 24, which will be preceded by two weeks of online voting and advance paper ballot opportunities. For a rundown of voting locations, click here.
