There are a number of
reasons why Robert Kirwan is running for the position of Councillor of
Ward 6 – Hanmer and Val Therese in the November Municipal election. One
of the most important reasons is because he and thousands of other
residents of
Valley East
feel they have been ignored by City Council ever since the first day of
amalgamation.
Kirwan, who is shown in the photo with Cecile Coutu discussing a
referendum petition that has been started as a result of the total
frustration of ratepayers, understands and supports people in Ward 6 who
want to put de-amalgamation on the ballot. He is inviting anyone who
picked up a petition during the meeting at Centennial Arena on April 24 to
drop their completed petitions off at his office in the Hanmer Valley
Shopping Centre and he will give them to Cecile.
“The City of
Greater Sudbury
has failed to adequately address the unique needs and issues of the people
living in
Valley East
. Councillors were elected to represent the people who put them into
office. Many people in this entire city, and not just the outlying areas,
have expressed the opinion that the current system is NOT working. I for
one say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The current City Council has had six years to
get their act together and they have failed. They do not deserve another
chance to mess things up for another four years. That is why I am coming
to the residents of Ward 6 - Hanmer & Val Therese, asking for their
support in November so that I can have the opportunity to sit on City
Council where I will do everything possible to bring the level of service
back up to what we deserve.”
After five and a half years of amalgamation, and just six months
prior to another election, Kirwan is not surprised that Councillors are
now finally admitting that municipal services, by-laws and policies should
reflect the unique needs and issues facing outlying areas.
“The majority of Councillors have publicly admitted that they are
completely out of touch with the people they represent. Instead of relying
upon their own knowledge of the issues of the constituents in their
individual Wards, they have decided to appoint a volunteer committee to
ask residents to voice their concerns and offer practical solutions to
existing problems. If Councillors had been paying attention to their
constituents for the past five years, there wouldn’t be any need for
this committee. They would be fully aware of the issues and concerns and
would have been already working on the solutions.”
Robert Kirwan is in touch with local residents every single day in
his roles as Marketing manager of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre,
writer and columnist for The Vision Paper, and publisher of Valley East
Today, an online weekly news magazine.
“I know what the
issues are in Ward 6 – Hanmer & Val Therese. People speak to me
every day about their concerns. If voters elect me as their Councillor I
can guarantee that City Council will make sure that our municipal services
are brought back up the level of which we deserve. It is time for a change
and I am confident that I have the necessary skills to make things happen
on City Council. All I need is your support in November to get the chance
to do it.”
