Lazanja making another run at an Amherstburg council seat

Lena Lazanja

Seeking unity on council and in the community, Lena Lazanja is making another run at a council position.

“I ran in 2018,” explained Lazanja. “At the time, there were a lot of critical issues for council to decide upon.”

Policing and the future of Belle Vue were topics then and remain topics now, she noted. Lazanja said she wanted to throw her hat in the ring to try and bring her vision for Amherstburg, stating there is now a lot of momentum and “big, positive changes” in town.

Eight years have gone by since her last run at a councillor position, with Lazanja saying she watched and observed what is happening. She said she has worked for various organizations and now wants to represent the voters of Amherstburg.

“It’s definitely time for me to show up and be the voice of the residents,” said Lazanja. “I am committed to representing each and every individual in Amherstburg without bias.”

Whether it be rural voters to new families, Lazanja said she wants to represent everyone. She noted she wants to represent youth as well as every other generation.

“I’m committed to doing my best as an agent for change,” she said.

Lazanja believes there is a divisiveness in Amherstburg, both between residents and council and administration and council and said she wants to see everyone work together.

Development and tourism are items she wants to look at and believes they should be in “the forefront” of everyone’s minds. She wants to ensure the town has proper infrastructure going forward and are planning properly for industrial growth.

“Our tourism is booming,” said Lazanja. “If we can take the same effort and energy and put towards securing large-scale investment. I don’t think anything can stop us.”

The town can’t rely too much on the residential tax base, she added.

Young people need places to work so they can stay local, she stated.

On policing, Lazanja said she moved to Amherstburg 20 years ago because it was safe and she wants it to continue that way. 

“In order to be a destination, it needs to be a safe and secure place to raise a family,” said Lazanja. “I don’t think we can lose sight of that.”

Amherstburg has to maintain its historical culture but has to have a plan to do that. There has to be a plan for what to do with places like Belle Vue, saying “we can’t wait a decade for plans to come to fruition.”

Lazanja said she would still like to see Belle Vue used as a conference centre or wedding venue, an original plan for the property.

Lazanja, who said that being a councillor would be her full-time job, added “I am not the candidate to make promises that can’t be fulfilled. What I can promise is that I’ll listen. We need to realize it is the residents voices that are needed.”

Lazanja making another run at an Amherstburg council seat

By Ron Giofu