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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 6, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Candidates set sights on being mayor Continued from page 1 change ­ I think they really showed that they wanted one last time around," says Stoate, elected as Ward 3 councillor in 2003. "But they want to make the right change ­ they want to be con- Ann Mulvale fident that they're making a change that will be positive." The 2003 municipal election ­ or the `last time around' ­ saw Burton come within 30 votes of unseating Mulvale, following a contentious recount. Burton, a retired television executive and president of the Joshua Creek Residents Association, is promising voters that he will get the cost of growth off property taxes and onto development charges, provide the town with long-overdue community facilities, and preserve neighborhoods and nature with better planning and a clearer Official Plan. Issues of growth and planning have dominated Oakville's political scene for most of the last decade, and it appears they will continue to play a major role in this election. Both Wright and Stoate are arguing that the town needs to develop a more cooperative and less adversarial way of interacting with developers. "For goodness sake, if you don't talk to a developer, how do you make really neat projects happen?" asks Wright. "And if you don't have the community groups working with the developer, how do you have an effect on what happens in their backyard?" Wright, who has represented Ward 6 on council for the last six years, is promising voters that she will focus on building relationships and creating Rob Burton a culture of inclusiveness that will ensure decision-makers "listen to all the voices, not just the loudest." Stoate is focusing on the town's need to become better at predicting planning and development issues before they arise, and developing appropriate strategies in advance. "It's my observation that we are on defense much too often," he says. "Rather than going where the puck is going to be, we're back on our heels in our own end." Mulvale, who has sat in the mayor's chair since 1988, says she opted to seek re-election because she believes the town will face a number of issues over the coming four years that will require proven leadership. "We have some real opportunities here to build on our past successes," says Mulvale, who questions whether town residents really are seeking a political change. Noting that only 27 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the extremely close election three years ago, Mulvale prefers to cite the 2004 town-commissioned Environics study. In that study, 87 per cent of residents told pollsters they believe Oakville is a better place to live than most other areas of the GTA. The opportunities Mulvale is referring to primarily involve interactions with, and deciChris Stoate sions by, the provincial and federal governments. Her challengers suggest the mayor is too focused on the town's relationship with the other levels of government. "Mayors should not blame the province for everything that's wrong in Oakville," says Wright. Her comment is echoed by both Burton ­ who says he would be a "buck-stops-here kind of mayor" ­ and Stoate, who says the town spends too much time "explaining why it's the province's fault or the developer's fault." "Let's be accountable and let's stop looking for excuses and start looking for solutions," Stoate adds. In response, Mulvale says she isn't passing blame, but simply attempting to communicate the complex reasons behind some of the realities the town faces. "Obviously everyone's trying to position a sound-bite here," she says. "We do a disservice to people when we give them sound-bite campaigns rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue." Mulvale urges voters to ask all candidates exactly how they plan to make their promises come true. "Denying the realities during a campaign does not remove the realities when you're elected," she notes. Both Wright and Stoate are emphasizing their experience around the council Janice Wright table, where they came face-to-face with the realities of governing. "I have both successful business experience and experience in the council arena," says Stoate, a local businessman whose slogan for the campaign is "Change You Can Trust." As a councillor, Stoate organized and led a town council lobby group that pressured the province to introduce reforms to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Wright says she is known in the political arena for her willingness to work and her ability to get results. "I was encouraged to run because I get stuff done," she said. However, Burton, who has never held political office, doesn't see his inexperience as a disadvantage. "People have a clear choice," he said. "You can have experienced politicians who don't get the job done. Or you can have executive experience that knows how to make good things happen." The Beaver was unable to reach the Daniela Giecewicz, the fifth candidate for mayor. The telephone number she provided the town when filing her nomination is not in service, and she did not provide an e-mail address. GIGANTIC HARDWOOD FLOORING SALE! Autumn leaves are falling and so are our Hardwood Flooring Prices! MASSIVE CLEAR OUT PRICING STARTING AT We see the potential. You live the results. $1.99 · Red Oak · White Oak ·M Maple · Jatoba · Ash · Hickory Many colours are available at: MELROSE PREFINISHED FLOORS 2380 Royal Windsor Dr. Mississauga 905-855-8900 HARDWOOD FLOORING CENTRE 2427 Weston Rd. 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