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This page was exported from Shelburne Free Press
[ https://shelburnefreepress.ca ] Export date: Wed Jul 3 16:23:13 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Bennington steps up to run for Mayor Ken Bennington, the current Deputy Mayor of Shelburne has stepped up to run for the position of Mayor in the upcoming Municipal Election October 27th. Originally running as the incumbent Deputy Mayor, a position he has held since 2006, Bennington withdrew that submission on Wednesday, September 10th, when Ed Crewson, the current Mayor of Shelburne, withdrew his candidacy in a personal decision that recognized “he had done all he had set out to do in 2003 and that it was time to pass the torch.” Bennington will compete for the position of Mayor with Shelburne resident Frank Hunt Jr. Ken Bennington, born and raised in Shelburne, is currently restoring a heritage house right across from his childhood home on Main Street. He is the proud father of “a wonderful, 19 year old son, also born and raised in Shelburne, who is pursuing his own goals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.” After graduating from Centre Dufferin District High School, where he says he has “fond memories and lasting friendships,” Mr. Bennington studied Business Administration at Georgian College in Barrie. Currently, he works for a large automotive manufacturing plant, where he and his team “specialize in cost containment, manufacturing efficiency, improvements and cost reduction.” Ken Bennington says he “entered the world of politics, at the age of 29, as a Hydro Commissioner for Shelburne Hydro back in 1998.” He was first elected to Town Council as a Councillor in 2000, and after 2 terms of office, he was elected as Deputy Mayor and is currently finishing his second term in that position. For the past eight years, Mr. Bennington has represented the Town of Shelburne at Dufferin County Council and says he is “surprised how fast that 16 years just whizzed by!” Below are Mr. Bennington's responses to questions from the Free Press. What specific skills do you bring to the position of Mayor? Mr. Bennington's response: “Experience – I've been involved in town politics for the past 16 years. I'm also a lifetime resident with knowledge of the Town and area for the past 45 years. Passion – Shelburne is my home and I'm very proud of that. Any decisions I make have the best intentions for the Town and our people. Accessible – I have always made myself available for my constituents and I will continue to do so. With today's electronic devices, this process should get even easier…phone, text, email, Facebook, Twitter…etc. Patience – Sometimes the wheels of progress turn slow. Seeds we plant today, may take some time to bear fruit. Council needs to be mindful of the future, to ensure the long term goals of the Town are met. Fiscal Responsibility – Tax dollars started out as your dollars, and I'm very mindful of that. I don't waste my own money so I wouldn't waste yours. As I mentioned earlier, cost efficiency is how I make my living. Town programs will be under review starting on day 1 of office.” What different community organizations do you belong to and volunteer for? “Aside from Council, I have been a coach of Shelburne Minor Hockey for teams of all ages over a number of years. In the last two seasons specifically, I was coach of both the Atom Reps and Atom Local League. You can find me at the rink as a referee with Ontario Minor Hockey. I've been refereeing hockey games since 1997, working games from 5–6 year olds, right up to the Junior ‘A' and Senior ‘A' level. Last October, I retired from the Shelburne Fire Department after 17 years of service.” What do you see as the three biggest challenges the Town will face in the next term? How will you deal with these challenges? “In no specific order….you say 3, I feel better with 5… Sewage capacity – As the new subdivisions are built out, the Town's sewage capacity is starting to diminish. The affluent receiving stream isn't getting any bigger, so Council will need to address the amount of ‘clean' water infiltrating into our sewage system. Some homes built in the 1970's had the weeping tiles connected to the Town's sewage system, and although that water is effectively clean, it still needs to be treated as sewage waste. Local Economy/ Downtown – It seems like every month, another store closes downtown. I plan to meet with local business owners to gather their thoughts for methods of improvement. Staff – A number of key Town employees may retire during the next term of office, taking with them years and years of experience and history. Replacing them with the right people will be essential for the success of the Town. Budget – The Town has benefited from increased assessment from all the new homes built in the past number of years. With that, we've been able to invest in parks and rec., and several other Town projects. As that development slows down, due to the lack of sewage capacity, our ability to fund these projects without tax increases will also diminish. Careful planning and wise spending is required. Ed Crewson – Whether you loved him as Mayor or not, that man was an incredible ambassador for the Town of Shelburne. He will not be easily replaced. As Mayor, he worked tirelessly to promote Shelburne as the ‘best small town in Ontario' and it will take all of Council to fill that void, myself included.” If you had a wish list for the Town – what would be at the top of it? “I'm purposely being non-specific here, but it's got to be big enough to employ 200 people, and pay corporate taxes to ease the burden from the homeowners. Not specifically a factory, but maybe a casino, shopping mall or hotel.” Residents will be able to see candidates for the Town of Shelburne in action at the all-candidate debates for the 2014 Municipal elections at Grace Tipling Hall, 203 Main Street East, in Shelburne at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 8th. All are welcome. By Marni Walsh |
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