On Oct. 24, voters across Waterloo Region will head to the polls to elect city and regional councillors, mayors and a regional chair.
Residents of Waterloo, the region’s smallest city, will elect councillors in seven wards in addition to a mayor to form city council.
There might be at the very least three recent faces in place, as Ward 3 Coun. Angela Vieth, Ward 6 Coun. Jeff Henry and Ward 7 Coun. Tenille Bonoguore have chosen not to hunt re-election.
In Ward 5, Coun. Jen Vasic is looking for a second term in office but she is going to should fend off challenges from Blayr Hogg, Bob (Obie) Oberholtzer and Joe Brenner.
To assist voters ahead of this election, Global News has reached out to all of those running for regional or city council, mayor or regional chair in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo with available online contact info. Those running for office were emailed an inventory of seven questions and in the approaching days, the responses for each candidate who replies might be shared.
What follows are the responses received from those running for councillor in Waterloo , with the candidates being listed in alphabetical order.
Blayr Hogg
Q.1 Please give a transient background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve gotten lived in the realm? (Should you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve gotten held the position.)
I used to be born and raised in Ward 5, Waterloo. The Hogg family got here to the region within the 1820s and have been an integral a part of forming what we now know because the City of Waterloo. Our entrepreneurial spirit has been passed down through the generations to my family who operate a family business in Kitchener today. My background is in communications and finance giving me a singular perspective on city spending and easy methods to most effectively use tax funds.
After leaving the family financial business I actually have found success as a contract communications consultant.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the best person for the job?
I’m the right person for the job because of my deep respect for democracy and integrity. I used to be disenchanted to see the incumbent disregard public opinion regarding speed limits within the ward and it spurred me into motion. When elected, I plan to respect the desires of my community, listen rigorously, and supply meaningful answers and solutions to issues facing the town today. I think I’m a breath of fresh air and a recent voice for those in Waterloo.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is a very powerful issue facing your ward and the town as a complete?
Town is facing a homelessness and inexpensive housing crisis. There are a number of individuals inside my ward which have children or relatives that may not afford to live in the town they grew up in. Allowing for more options like low/mid-rise apartment buildings with 2 or 3 bedroom units is an important solution to infuse our neighbourhoods with younger families and people looking for an alternative choice to home ownership. A part of eliminating single family zoning is to also allow for as much as 3 dwellings on a property (Kitchener already does this) like a carriage house, granny flat, or perhaps a tiny home. Actually, there are those inside our community who would embrace the chance to have an additional income while providing protected and stable housing. Moreover, I might encourage the town to proceed to speculate in transitional housing, cooperative housing associations, and inexpensive options (like a tiny home community) that allow for those experiencing homelessness to have a protected and stable place to call home. Housing is a human right and needs to be treated as such.
The entire above options would in fact be subject to bylaws and held to high standards.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
A few of my long-term goals for the town are to exceed current climate change standards, push for green constructing techniques (timber-frame buildings as a substitute of concrete, eco-friendly alternative constructing materials, etc.), mandate heat pumps for apartment/condo buildings as an alternative choice to heat/cold air circulation (heat pumps also act as air con in the summertime. There aren’t any regulations around how hot a dwelling can get and as we experience climate change our summers are getting hotter), and proceed to service critical social and traditional infrastructure. I might also insist that each one bike lanes include a curb or significant barrier between vehicle traffic and cyclists; a painted line is insufficient at keeping cyclists protected.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
My platform is a return to common sense governing with special attention paid to where and the way taxpayer funds are spent.
I’m a passionate supporter of reviewing and reallocating the police budget to support local nonprofits already undertaking critical work at a grassroots level. I think in collaboration with professionals in all social infrastructure positions as they’re essentially the most informed and have essentially the most tangible impact on the problems at hand. This might lighten the load of our police services allowing them to focus solely on crime and would supply a way of security for individuals who understandably are weary of police involvement and potential criminalization. The answer to many social issues is commonly to handle the basis cause; to not punish people for where they’re in life. A very powerful issue facing my ward is probably going the speed limits proposed by Vision Zero. While the science behind Vision Zero is sound, the community survey results for Waterloo clearly stated that constituents (59.47 per cent) wanted Option A (40km/h speed on most streets, 30km/h at school zones) and never Option B (blanket 30km/h speed reduction). The council selected to push through their agenda for Vision Zero and disregarded the community survey entirely by passing Option B. I think this was the flawed decision and against the tenets of democracy and subsequently I cannot support it. I do nevertheless, support the Vision Zero goal of zero deaths on our local roads. Unfortunately, the roads with the very best collision rates inside my ward are Regional, not city roads (like University Ave.). I actually have heard from so many disenchanted constituents that their voices weren’t heard through the community survey and that they’ve lost faith in our democratic system consequently. That is deeply troubling to me and, again, while I support the philosophy behind Vision Zero; I cannot support the previous council’s decision to disregard their community and select for them.
Q.6 What do you prefer to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, painting, whittling, woodturning, woodworking, swimming and gardening.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
My favourite thing about living in Waterloo is that its still a friendly place to live where neighbours come together in support of each other and smile after they pass one another on the road. I also love our greenspaces!
Bob (Obie) Oberholtzer
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the best person for the job?
At age 87, I actually have a lifetime of non-public and 40+ years of business experience under my belt. I actually have a love for people, our surroundings, for family and friends. I can’t consider a greater solution to give what I can to the community of ward 5 Waterloo and beyond.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is a very powerful issue facing your ward and the town as a complete?
Valuing every person enough to take actions to make sure basic needs are met, quality of life improvements for individuals with low incomes.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
A few of my long run goals include securing adequate everlasting housing and basic services for people who find themselves homeless and/or coping with disabilities of various degrees and find ways to lower the deaths resulting from drug overdose.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
My platform is how people in leadership positions actually look after others as they spend taxpayers dollars. Many individuals in the following generations copy their leaders’ behaviors of lip service. I hope to be an example of actions that don’t squander tax dollars.
Q.6 What do you prefer to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, a few of my favorite things are playing a game of cards or crokinole or table tennis. I also enjoy walking and chatting with people along the best way. And I’m a long-time Blue Jays fan.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
A few of my favorite things about living in Ward 5 are you’ll be able to all the time find someone who helps in times of need, the gorgeous trees and all of the conveniences we enjoy.
Jen Vasic
Q.1 Please give a transient background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve gotten lived in the realm? (Should you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve gotten held the position.)
For the last 4 years, I’ve been the ward 5 city councillor in Waterloo. I’m a mom to 2 young kids, a partner to Matt, and until recently, a dog-owner. Sadly, we needed to say goodbye to our 11-year old goldendoodle recently.
After growing up within the GTA, I, like many individuals who now call Waterloo home, moved here to attend the University of Waterloo. While there, I studied Political Science and History, minoring within the German language. After a transient move to Toronto to get a Social Work degree, I returned and settled in ward 5 where I proceed to live with my family. I’m currently a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the best person for the job?
For nearly 15 years, I’ve been working within the not-for-profit sector and academic sectors helping individuals, communities and systems meet their ever-changing needs.
Bringing people together to unravel complex social and community issues is the work I do each inside and out of doors of council, and I adore it.
As one example, through the last election, I heard loud and clear that neighbours around Roselea Park had been wanting a playground there for years. I brought together a bunch of residents (including kids) and city staff to brainstorm what they desired to see in that park. From there, residents took the lead and thru donations, time, and the town’s neighbourhood matching fund, they raised an extra $15,000 to boost the playground and add a community board.
It’s with this same enthusiasm that I approach my community work and that I’ve dropped at council over the past 4 years, and that I’ll be bringing to the following term of council as a way to work together to handle the large issues facing us as a society and find solutions to every-day problems.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is a very powerful issue facing your ward and the town as a complete?
The last two-and-a-half years have been tremendously socially isolating, and we all know that social isolation can result in negative health and mental health impacts. Considered one of my biggest priorities over the following 4 years is to assist people to get out and connected by investing in arts and culture, by enhancing our outdoor spaces, and by investing in protected and accessible transportation. Doing so will help us rebuild the energy we want to collectively tackle the large and urgent social economic, political and environmental challenges facing us today.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
Increase access and engagement: It’s a goal of mine to remain connected with residents, be open and transparent about my decision making and help residents navigate the complexity of a giant institution. I think an engaged city councillor will help to extend residents’ interest and talent to interact with the town over the long-term.
A more fair city: Many diverse communities tell us the town remains to be not a welcoming or protected place. I need to create a city where everyone feels protected, welcome and included in ways which are meaningful to them, and where everyone cannot only survive, but thrive.
Strong, fun, and connected neighbourhoods: I really like seeing neighbours connect and convey projects to life. Strong, fun, and connected neighbourhoods are central to individual and community well-being. This work is just at its starting and I’m excited to assist it proceed to grow.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
I actually have three broad areas of focus:
Sustainability, equity, and safety: These three big – and urgent – goals are connected. Working on anyone directly helps the others and I’ll proceed to prioritize them by supporting the implementation of the transportation master plan, encouraging public input into the urban forest strategy, and advocating for policies and practices that promote housing as a human right, amongst other initiatives.
Getting out and connected: The pandemic has shown us how necessary it’s to get outside, the worth of arts and culture to our well-being and economy, and the way good it feels to attach with friends, family, and neighbours in-person. Getting out and connected is a vital a part of pandemic recovery and I’ll support this by championing community engagement in the event of the town’s next Culture Plan, pushing for ongoing improvements to Bechtel Park’s amenities, and supporting local businesses, to call a couple of.
Advocacy and communication: This past council term it has been a goal of mine to remain connected with residents, work along with them for improvements to the town’s delivery of services, be open and transparent about my decision making, and help residents navigate the complexity of a giant institution. I’ll proceed to share my decision-making processes through an e-newsletter I send out frequently, sustain with responsive communication and problem-solving through the many alternative channels including phone, email, social media, and in-person, and gather resident perspectives on the town’s emergency preparedness, as a way to be prepared for future emergencies, should they occur.
Q.6 What do you prefer to do in your spare time?
I’m a reader, lover of independent bookstores, and over the pandemic became a vegetable gardener, following within the footsteps of certainly one of my grandparents who all the time kept a giant urban vegetable garden. I also grew up playing tennis and was a varsity tennis player at University of Waterloo during my undergrad. After a four-year hiatus, I’m looking forward to getting back to the sport soon.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
It’s vibrant! Between city-wide events like LUMEN, a light-weight, art, and tech festival, in addition to other events akin to Games within the Park hosted by the Lincoln Heights Neighbourhood Group or the longstanding Croyden-Southwick BBQ, residents make this community fun and full of life. I’m so grateful to live in a city/ward where people have great ideas and have the talents and enthusiasm to make these ideas come to life.
Global News has also reached out to Joe Brenner but has not received a response as of publication. This copy might be updated as further answers arrive.
