Guide to the municipal elections

Waterloo mayoral candidates

Dave Jaworsky
Jaworksy’s platform revolves around a three-point plan. He wants to: “rebuild prosperity, ensuring that we keep, grow, start and attract the businesses that move our local economy forward; focus on effective government that gives you the information you need when you need it, and acts responsibly with your tax dollars;
build a vibrant, caring community that puts people first.”

With this plan he promises to:

• Support small and medium businesses
• Improve access to government services, for example moving to online voting in 2018
• Support culture, recreation and arts to increase activities
• Promote “alternate commuting and casual transportation” to reduce traffic congestion
• Secure relationships with post-secondary leaders

Dave MacDonald
MacDonald says he will strive to be “accessible, accountable, affordable and an ambassador. In order to do this, he says he will:

• Have an “open-door policy”
• Have expenditures out in the open
• Make sure projects stay on budget and money is “spent wisely”
• Macdonald states he is “well-known” and will therefore be a good ambassador for the city.

Rami Said
Said’s platform focuses on three main areas: manage, invest and protect. He plans to:

• Combine similar services to cut inefficiencies
• Remove “red tape” to make growing a business less complicated
• Support small and medium businesses
• Increase support of start-ups and incubators
• Make transportation safer through improvements to paths and bike lanes
• Work with organizations to create sense of belonging for immigrants
• Hold the region accountable for the light rail transit system
• Grow low-income housing

Erika Traub

Traub’s platform opens by stating the importance of voting, especially among youth. Her platform revolves around: environment, high tech, LRT, neighbourhoods and growth. She plans to:

• Support the environment through “clean air and water, progressive waste disposal initiatives, smart use of our valuable land, respect for the environment and environmentally sensitive areas”
• Achieve a sustainable economy through partnerships with universities and colleges, insurance industry and manufacturing
• Intensify development along transit routes
• Create job opportunities to attract growth to the city

Waterloo councillor candidates

Ward 6
(Central-Columbia)

Jeff Henry
Platform points
Develop plan to address “infrastructure challenges”
Assist with rental housing by-law review scheduled for 2016
Support affordable housing plans
Give input for transit service changes to improve routes

Robert Hodgins
A platform for Hodgins could not be found online.

Ward 7
(Uptown Waterloo)

Melissa Durrell
Platform points
Collaborate with academic institutions and tech sector
Support accessible housing
Grow with mixed-use developments
Protect water as the city grows
Make public spaces safe and enjoyable