CBC Niagara councillor candidate election survey
1. Why are you running for councillor of this particular ward?
I am running for councillor in Ward 2/St. Andrew’s because this is my community and my home. I have lived in Western Hill since 2015 and want to help make Ward 2 and St. Catharines stronger places to live, work and raise a family.
St. Catharines faces difficult decisions about growth, infrastructure, taxes, housing, transportation and public safety. As our city grows, we also need to consider how those decisions affect existing neighbourhoods and residents. They require people who understand the issues, ask difficult questions, weigh the evidence and make decisions.
As a Professional Engineer with experience in project management, infrastructure, regulation and complex industrial operations, along with municipal committee experience, I believe I can contribute a valuable perspective to those decisions.
I want to bring a pragmatic, prudent and professional approach to City Hall and be a strong voice for Ward 2.
This is my community. I’m invested in its future, and I want to help engineer St. Catharines for success.
2. What are the most urgent issues facing your ward?
One of the biggest challenges facing Ward 2 is ensuring our infrastructure and services keep pace with a changing and growing community. This summer’s flooding highlighted the need to improve our resilience to extreme weather, strengthen stormwater management and make smart, long-term infrastructure investments.
We also need to manage growth and housing responsibly. New development is important, but it must be supported by adequate infrastructure, transportation and community services while respecting established neighbourhoods.
Affordability and the responsible use of taxpayers’ dollars remain major concerns. Residents expect quality services and deserve to know they are receiving value for what they pay.
Community safety, transportation, recreation and access to services, including improved public library service, also matter. These issues are connected. We need to maintain what we have, prepare for what is coming and make decisions with the long term in mind.
3. How would you address those issues?
I would address these challenges by building on the City’s existing plans, setting priorities and bringing discipline and fiscal prudence to decision-making. Infrastructure spending should consider condition, risk and the consequences of failure, with continued attention to stormwater management and flood resilience. We should also pursue provincial and federal funding opportunities to help reduce the burden on local taxpayers.
Growth needs to be coordinated with the infrastructure, transportation and community services needed to support it, while considering the impact on existing neighbourhoods.
For City spending, I would evaluate the need, examine alternatives, consider immediate and long-term costs, and make sure taxpayers are getting value.
Many challenges do not stop at municipal boundaries. I would work collaboratively with Niagara Region and neighbouring municipalities where shared solutions can improve services, reduce duplication or deliver better value.
Above all, I would listen to residents, work collaboratively with City staff, ask questions, use evidence to make decisions and report back on results.
4. What would be one priority for Ward 2?
One priority would be strengthening Ward 2’s infrastructure and resilience to flooding and extreme weather. This summer showed how important reliable stormwater, sewer and road infrastructure is to protecting homes and neighbourhoods.
I would push for infrastructure investments to be prioritized based on condition and risk, particularly where failure could have the greatest impact on residents. We need to identify vulnerable areas, improve drainage and stormwater capacity, use practical green infrastructure where it makes sense, and ensure new development does not place unreasonable pressure on existing systems.
I would also pursue available provincial and federal infrastructure funding to reduce the burden on local taxpayers.
As an engineer, I know we cannot eliminate every risk. What we can do is understand the risks, plan ahead and make investments today that reduce the likelihood of much greater costs tomorrow.
5. What would be one city-wide priority?
One city-wide priority would be growing and diversifying St. Catharines’ economy and tax base. A stronger economy facilitates job creation and attracts investment while helping reduce the pressure of rising costs on existing residential taxpayers.
Tourism will continue to be important, but we should also build on our strengths in manufacturing and pursue opportunities in technology, professional services, clean industries and growing local businesses.
That means making St. Catharines an easier place to invest by improving development approvals, supporting brownfield and underused property redevelopment, and ensuring infrastructure can support growth. At the same time, growth needs to consider impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods, including traffic, infrastructure and quality of life.
We should work with Niagara Region, neighbouring municipalities, post-secondary institutions and other partners to attract investment and pursue shared opportunities.
My goal is straightforward: grow the tax base, not just the tax bill, while ensuring growth works for the communities it affects.
6. How would you approach the City budget and taxpayers' money?
Every budget should start with a simple question: Are taxpayers getting good value for the money being spent?
I would look for savings through service reviews, better procurement, reducing duplication, improving processes and using technology where it can genuinely lower costs or improve productivity. Programs and discretionary spending should also be reviewed regularly to determine whether they are still needed and delivering results.
What I would not support are short-term cuts that simply create bigger bills later. Maintaining critical infrastructure is one area where we cannot afford to be short-sighted. Deferring necessary work on roads, sewers, stormwater systems and City facilities may save money today but can cost taxpayers much more in the future.
My approach would be to challenge costs, examine alternatives, prioritize needs and make every tax dollar work harder.
7. What differentiates you from the other candidates?
Being a Professional Engineer has shaped how I approach problems and make decisions. Engineering demands competence, integrity, professional responsibility, consideration of risk and regard for the public interest.
My career has taught me to understand the problem, consider the evidence and alternatives, and find practical solutions while being accountable for the result. My private-sector experience has required me to make decisions with real operational, financial and safety consequences.
That experience is complemented by service on the Committee of Adjustment and as Chair of both the Property Standards Appeal Committee and Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee, giving me firsthand experience with municipal decision-making.
What I would bring to Council is a combination of engineering discipline, professional responsibility, private-sector experience, municipal experience and independent thinking—along with a willingness to make difficult decisions and stand behind them.