I have been fortunate to receive many supportive messages from people throughout our community. I appreciate them all - some make me smile, others are very humbling, and some offer me great hope for the future of our town. Such was the case when I read the following words from Colin Pape (ShopCity, ShopMidland). Colin is a young entrepreneur who was born and raised in Midland, left for a while, and then came back to start a business in his hometown.
"I've had many discussions with Gord McKay about ways to grow our business and bring more jobs to the area. Gord has been instrumental in helping us cut through red tape and move our company forward. We now employ 15 people in Downtown Midland, and with an experienced leader like Mayor McKay, who's already grown a company from a handful of people to hundreds, I know we can employ many more. A vote for Gord is a vote for real economic development.
In today's day and age, with smartphones, the internet, and Facebook at the core of our communications, it's imperative that we have a leader who understands and uses these powerful mediums to engage the community, seize opportunities, and communicate the potential of our community to the world. Gord gets the importance of innovation and knows how to leverage technology better than anyone else running."
Colin's enthusiasm and his entrepreneurial spirit are indicative of the potential that we have in our community. And fortunately, he is not alone. I have met with many other ambitious people with similar aspirations including: John P. Cipressi (manufacturing), Christine Taylor (retail), Jim Brown (computer technology), Bob Kafato (communications), and Barb Rowlandson (event management). With people like this committed to economic development in our town, I am confident that we can move Midland forward over the next four years and beyond.
“Council
is split 5-4.” – “Council is
dysfunctional.” – “Why can't these
guys work together?”
It seems that everyone likes to criticize
Council. While there have been problems, I want to give you a different
perspective and tell you about the many good things that this “dysfunctional”
Council has accomplished.
My first job when I became Mayor was to get
Council to work together. I know from past leadership roles that working
together does not mean everyone agrees and there will often be passionate discussion on issues. But being a Councillor is about more than talking about your favourite position. It is about doing your
homework, coming to the Council table prepared to listen, and then voting for
what you feel is best for Midland.
Despite best intentions, Council's first year
was chaotic. Divisions from the previous Council were in play and many votes
were split 5-4. Over the next three years we learned how to work together. While there were still some 5-4 votes, there were far more that were 9-0 or instances where the 5-4 split was made up of different Councillors. We were listening to
each other and making good independent decisions for Midland. And we accomplished
a lot:
- A four year budget discipline
to keep taxes below the rate of inflation
- Agreement on our first
ever operational review by KPMG
- Purchase of the Unimin
lands (7-1)
- Support for our Downtown
Master Plan (unanimous)
- Creation of the Economic
Development Corporation of North Simcoe (unanimous)
- Launch of the Tourism
Action Plan and the Cultural Plan (large majorities)
In
the coming term, Council will face some big
challenges. This election you will vote for the members of Council who will be
making those tough decisions. Take time to get to know who is running and vote for
those candidates whose first priority is “Moving Midland Forward”.
