Courtney seeking third term on council

Peter Courtney

Peter Courtney is looking for another term on Amherstburg town councillor.

Courtney, one of two incumbents looking for re-election as a councillor in the Oct. 26 municipal election, was first elected in 2018 and then re-elected in 2022.

“I love my town,” said Courtney. “I love sitting around the table trying to figure out what is best for my community.”

Courtney said he is running again because there are still things that he wants to accomplish and “loose ends” he wants to complete from previous campaign promises.

Regarding Belle Vue, Courtney said the current council attempted to have it redeveloped by a third party but it didn’t work out.

“This past council tried to get things going with the Amico-Loop group. That didn’t go forward,” he said.

Courtney added the town can’t let the historic building sit there and deteriorate.

H. Murray Smith Centennial Park is another item he wants to see further progress on, noting he was pleased money is being put back into the park’s redevelopment. He pointed out public-private partnerships can be an option, citing the donation from Walker Industries as an example. He wants to see the park become even more active, including the sports courts, pathway, Russell Renaud Hill, and the Golden Age Club building, as well as ensuring people from the past remain recognized such as S. Ralph McCurdy. He noted he is happy to see the Golden Age Club back to where they began.

A new town hall is another issue, though Courtney acknowledged it is a very expensive one but one he says is important.

“We still need to go down the pathway of looking into where a town hall will go,” he said.

Courtney also wants a “different strategy” of looking at town budgets, advocating for a zero-based budgeting approach.

“It really starts to put the focus on our needs and wants,” he said.

The town has to be creative on how it manages money efficiently and still give the residents the services they grow to love and expect.

Open Air Weekends continues to be a top issue, Courtney added, and if he is re-elected he would like to see it reviewed. 

“Everyone loves Open Air but the continued argument seems to be the frequency of the event,” said Courtney.

Courtney said the town has to try and keep businesses happy and successful while doing the event.

Courtney expressed gratitude that he was re-elected by voters four years ago, believing more got done and finances in Amherstburg improved in his second term. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and personnel issues at town hall, he feels his first term wasn’t as productive as he would have liked it. He hopes to be able to continue.

If elected to a third term, he added he would like to lend what he has learned to any newcomers that may be around the table. Courtney added his priorities of community, commitment and common sense remain the same and he is still as “hometown proud” as he has ever been.

Courtney seeking third term on council

By Ron Giofu