LeBlanc hearing concerns about the town and wants to address them

Shawn LeBlanc

Shawn LeBlanc says he has heard from people he talks to about issues they are having in Amherstburg and he wants to be part of the solution.

LeBlanc has filed his paperwork and is running for a councillor’s position in the Oct. 26 municipal election. He said he knows a lot of people through his employment and groups he is involved with and they are expressing some concerns, adding he wants to help them with those concerns.

LeBlanc said people don’t know how decisions are made and he said he wants to relay how things occur.

Among the issues he is hearing, LeBlanc said “traffic has been one of the biggest ones.”

“Everyone wants to come to Amherstburg,” he said. “There are only so many ways to get here.”

The length of time the new fire hall is taking to get built is another of the issues he is hearing and wants more information about. LeBlanc believes additional transparency is needed to find out why it is taking so long.

Taxes are another issue.

“I would love to see taxes stop increasing,” he said. “That would be great.”

The frequency of Open Air Weekends is another issue LeBlanc would like discussed. He believes not having it every week would “make it more special,” and that the off weeks could help some of the local businesses within the footprint. He suggests looking at possibly making Open Air either once or twice per month.

“The restaurants I feel do really well with Open Air,” he said, adding hair salons and other businesses have issues with the ability to being accessible.

LeBlanc believed the cost to restore Belle Vue could be in the area of $20 million and it is in the best interests of the town to divest itself of the property. “If there is a way for the town to offload this and for someone to develop it, I’m all for that,” said LeBlanc.

Family and friends have been very supportive of his candidacy, he added, and they are excited to have someone they know run for council. In his job as a realtor, he has to meet new people and try to help them and he sees the role as a councillor as very similar. 

“I would love to know every single person in Amherstburg at some point,” he said. 

Getting to know people and having conversations is something he finds important.

“That is very appealing to me,” said LeBlanc. 

LeBlanc, who has aspirations of being mayor one day, said he is a person who wants to work with others. He has a goal of making council the most positive group it has ever been.

“If someone is going to vote for me, they are voting for someone who is passionate about people and cohesive with other council members,” said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc added he has been meeting with local businesses about their needs and soon plans to go door-to-door. He is also a local pickleball player and member of the Garage Gym and has been discussing issues with people  there as well.

LeBlanc hearing concerns about the town and wants to address them

By Ron Giofu