David Brown: What I will do differently for Rideau-Goulbourn

article by David Brown, Candidate for Rideau-Goulbourn Ward 21

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]I am committed to working for residents to make sure the city spends our tax dollars wisely such as fixing the $70 million annual roads and infrastructure funding gap. Council’s plan is to raise our taxes every year for the next decade to properly fund existing public assets. Instead of raising taxes, shouldn’t gas taxes that are already being paid for by drivers be used to repair roads?

As Rideau-Goulbourn’s next Councillor, I will commit to enhancing traffic safety by using the Councillor-allotted traffic-calming budget. Over the last 4 years, Scott Moffatt spent less than 25% of his $160,000 budget towards safety issues in our ward.  Speed display boards, pavement markings, flex stakes increase public safety.   What benefit does the ward gain by not spending money earmarked for public safety?

It‘s time to Dump the Dump! Let’s move Ottawa towards a waste-to-energy incinerator. Hundreds of thousands of tons of garbage is dumped at Trail Road Dump every year. Why is City Council content to let Rideau-Goulbourn act as the city’s dumpster for decades to come? We need leadership to move our City out of the dark ages.

Finally, Richmond is growing, its time we had someone that is ready to fight for the benefit of our community. Our village deserves the infrastructure it needs to welcome our new neighbours before they arrive, not after. Infrastructure before growth ensures our village will keep it’s charm and respect the residents that already call Richmond home.

This election is important and these are the reasons why I am running.  We need a change at City Hall to ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely and our rural concerns are being addressed.

This is MY focus.

David Brown