Anderson wants to take care of town’s needs before wants
Armand Anderson wants the town to have better control over its finances and hopes to do something about it, if elected.
Anderson is seeking one of five councillor positions in the Oct. 26 municipal election. He said Amherstburg has always been an ambitious community, but ambition is not the issue that needs addressing.
“The problem is a lack of financial discipline at town council,” said Anderson.
Anderson believes the town has to properly budget and plan for expenditure, using the Belle Vue mansion on Dalhousie St. as an example.
“We bought Belle Vue ten years ago. We are seeing no benefits from it and there is no plan for it,” said Anderson.
Other needs, such as roads and sewers, need to be addressed first.
“We should take care of what we need before buying what we want,” he said. “We have other infrastructure that needs to be considered.”
Anderson said the town has to be careful that purchases and expenditures made today don’t have a negative impact such as debt down the road. He believed it is important to look at the long-term and how it could impact the community.
Representing the needs of all areas of Amherstburg is another important part of Anderson’s campaign.
“Amherstburg is more than a downtown core surrounded by taxpayers,” he said. “Communities like River Canard, like McGregor, like Amherst Pointe, like Malden Centre and on the concession roads, they all pay taxes like everyone else and they all should be considered at town council.”
Anderson said he is hearing concerns at the doorstep about Open Air Weekends and suggested events be staged in other areas of Amherstburg.
“We have a gorgeous part of town like downtown McGregor. I think some people would like to see town events hosted there and not necessarily downtown.”
The future of policing in Amherstburg is another issue Anderson said he is hearing about.
“The decision to remove the (Amherstburg) police force from the town was a poor decision,” he believed. “We’re now left with few options.”
The two options seem to be going with the OPP and renegotiating with Windsor.
“Policing is a priority for the municipality,” he said. “We’ll have to do our best for the taxpayers and for the safety of our community.”
Anderson said he has worked both in the private and public sectors, now employed in the latter, and said he is getting words of encouragement at the door. Friends and family are also “extremely supportive” of his candidacy.
“That’s really heartwarming and uplifting,” said Anderson. “I’m fortunate to have years of experience at the provincial level and private sector experience. I can bring that knowledge to the municipal campaign and, if elected, to town council.”
Among his private sector experience was him being the global deals and cases specialist with a law firm in Toronto.
Anderson added he looks forward to meeting people and hearing their issues and concerns regarding the community while campaigning.
Anderson wants to take care of town’s needs before wants
By Ron Giofu
Comments