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YOU THINK Were Closer Than C O - E D , M O N T E S S O R I , J U N I O R , M I D D L E , S E N I O R COLLEGE-WIDE OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, October 27th 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , O ct ob er 8 , 2 01 0 1 4 By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Its a two-way race for the seat of town councillor in Ward 5, with newcomer Mark Straub challenging incumbent Marc Grant for the job. Straub, a general manager at a Mississauga manufacturing company, says he decided to run for council because he was dissatisfied with what he saw happening in Oakville. I wasnt happy with the current council and some of the decisions they had made and the direction of the town as a whole, he says. Id like to bring more responsibility to the budgetary process in terms of how tax dollars are spent. However, Grant who is running for his third term as ward councillor, said he has Grant challenged by Straub for Ward 5 town seat Eighth in a series received much positive feedback from the community about his work over the last seven years. He says he is seeking election again because he wants to make sure that develop- ment north of Dundas Street lives up to its promise of creating a variety of housing types for people in Oakville. Everything Ive been working on so far is coming to a head over the next four years, said Grant. As we build out north Oakville, I want to make sure we have that housing stock. Grant, who works as a cook for the Salvation Army Lighthouse homeless shel- ter, says he also wants to continue in his role as a problem-solver for local residents who need help navigating and utilizing town resources. The most important part of my job is sitting down with people and taking care of problems and issues that hit them close to home, Grant says. Whether town-wide con- cerns about issues like taxes or hospital funding, or local issues like parking prob- lems or absentee landlords, he says he is always available to assist residents. Straub says he wants to set up regular forums to provide information to con- stituents and listen to their concerns. He is also concerned with the issues of seniors and people with low incomes, and promises that he would be a voice for that group and make sure they are not forgotten. Straub also says he would focus on the need for new business investment in Oakville. However, his main platform thrust is in the area of fiscal management. He says the town should introduce a municipal auditor to review the budget, should use a zero- based budgeting system, and possibly intro- duce taxation or expenditure rules to cap spending or hiring at the percentage of pop- ulation growth or inflation. A former president of Haltons Progressive Conservative Riding Association, Straub says he believes resi- dents are frustrated with the direction of the town and want to see someone with a strong background in business sitting at the coun- cil table. Grant says he supports the need for council to be vigilant about its use of tax dollars and says he thinks the idea of a municipal auditor is worth considering. Right now, with the economy, I think everybodys concerned about taxes. If re-elected, one of his goals will be to continue to work on vandalism and rowdi- ness issues in the area. He wants to see Oakville hire a community co-ordinator who will bring together town, police, school and community resources in an attempt to engage youths in the community and deal with problems in the ward. Were not doing enough in north Oakville for youths, Grant says. This is about the safety of the neighbourhoods, but its also about making sure there are things for kids to do. Its a two-pronged war. Ward 5 encompasses the area north of the QEW, between Sixteen Mile Creek and Trafalgar Road. Marc Grant Mark Straub Speak up! You can comment on any story in todays Oakville Beaver at oakvillebeaver.com.