
August 30, 2018 · 0 Comments
By Jasen Obermeyer
After running unsuccessfully in the 2014 election, Bob McCrea is looking this time to secure a seat on Mono council in the upcoming October municipal election.
Running on the slogan ‘respect for residents,’ Mr. McCrea told the Citizen in an interview that Mono needs a council that takes a more “pro-active role” in promoting positive initiatives, and to act on them, instead of just referring them to the town’s staff. He added that council needs to be more open and welcoming to the residents’ needs and ideas, as being pro-active and open “go hand in hand,” which are one of the first things he said he is looking to do if elected.
Current Councillors Fred Nix, Ralph Manktelow, and Sharon Martin are all seeking re-election, while Mr. McCrea and Diane Walmsley are the two newcomers seeking a spot as councillor.
A retired professional industrial salesman, with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo, Mr. McCrea noted that as he lives in one of the town’s subdivisions, his election would provide a balanced representation from the rural and urban sides of the town. He added that it is essential to have that balanced representation as the town’s population is nearly split in half between rural and more urban but the current council members are all from rural areas.
“That is one of the most fundamental things,” he explained, adding that if elected, he will “immediately” be proposing that the town adopts a citizen engagement charter.
He said that he has been part of the town’s Planning and Environmental Advisory Committee for 20 years, most of them as chair, and thus has seen the developments, and understands how the town operates.
Mr. McCrea said that one of the issues he is looking to tackle is dealing with the town’s by-law enforcement, which is contracted to Dufferin County on a part-time basis. He said that doesn’t work, and they need a full-time by-law enforcement officer. “We might as well not have bylaws if we’re not going to get serious about enforcing them.”
Mr. McCrea added that his job entailed satisfying customers’ needs, which he said in this case are those of the town’s residents, and said he will work had at to ensure that will happen.