As we approach the 2022 municipal election, Global Kingston caught up with each of the 39 candidates searching for a seat on Kingston city council. Here we asked them about why they’re running and what issues matter most to them. Below is the query and answer for the candidates in Kingscourt-Rideau who responded to our e-mail.
Joseph Dowser
Why are you running?
As a resident of the “Heights”, I actually have grow to be frustrated with how this significant a part of Kingston appears to be neglected and ignored. A lot of our residents are marginalized based on their street address. Too many residents in our community proceed to struggle and we’d like a robust voice on council to champion their concerns. I would like to be their voice, and that’s the reason I’m running.
What needs improvement in your district?
For my part, there are several pressing issues and required improvements in my district:
Housing (Renters/Tenant Rights) – we’d like to construct more cost-effective rental apartments and houses while preserving our unique culture and the environment. Tenants suffer probably the most when housing availability is restricted. For a lot of, landlords are increasing the monthly rent in excess and tenants now face the dilemma of either paying rent or purchasing food. That is unacceptable.
Clean, Protected Parks and Natural Greenspaces – only a few recent trees are planted in our district while many are cut down. I feel that we’d like to plant a tree for each child in my district to revive the balance between the environment and the urban expanse. We are able to grow while preserving the environment.
Roads, Sidewalks, and Increased Services – we now have sidewalks and roads in need of desperate repair and increased maintenance. Kingscourt-Rideau needs and deserves a fair proportion of infrastructure investment and maintenance. “We’re uninterested in being last on the list…”
Why do you are feeling it is best to represent that district?
Many things set me other than other candidates, but most significantly I’m a Proud resident of the Heights, I share their same lived experiences and know the struggles we face in our community.
I may also treat this necessary position as a Full-Time job and commitment, this isn’t a part-time “hobby job” or side hustle. My focus might be on the residents and community of Kingscourt-Rideau, putting District 7 interests first. It is necessary that our voices and our values are heard at Council by someone who resides in Kingscourt-Rideau, someone who comes from the people and is for the people. Many residents have asked me why they need to trouble to vote when nothing seems to alter – I tell the I’m not a profession politician and can commit myself to serve full-time they usually are supportive.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
I feel that Kingston has many pressing issues that need immediate attention, nonetheless, I feel the highest three issues are inexpensive housing, environmental protection and restoration, and infrastructure investments including repairs and maintenance.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
Firstly, my focus might be on the residents and community of Kingscourt-Rideau, putting District 7 interests first. I’ll work to revive the community’s confidence in Council by remaining accessible and accountable, keeping all doors of communication open. Any ideas or comments submitted to me by residents of District 7 is not going to go ignored or dismissed. It’s my hope that I may be the voice that helps bring respect and dignity back to the great people of Kingscourt-Rideau. Understandably, my position would also encompass the town as an entire. I’ll work collectively with my fellow Councillors in a cooperative manner to make sure Kingston, the environment, and residents all thrive harmoniously. Residents can feel proud to call Kingston their home.
Tom Gingrich
Why are you running?
I’m running because I would like to be Kingscourt/Rideau’s voice on the table. To bring the ridings concerns and concepts forward. With 51 years of live experience (all right here on this riding), I assumed I can be the fitting person to be the councilor for Kingscourt/Rideau. I actually have seen many changes on this community and need to be a part of the following phase of those improvements. I would like to assist my community and neighbours
What needs improvement in your district?
The most important issues I see and have heard about while canvassing is traffic concerns (with a give attention to our schools) and the condition of inexpensive housing. There may be a significant traffic concern around KSS and Molly Brant schools straight away. Day by day before and after school there have been many near misses between motorists and pedestrians. We’d like to repair this ASAP before someone gets hurt. The Student Advisory Committee has submitted some great ideas to the town on easy methods to hopefully reduce the danger. There’s something on the books, nevertheless it isn’t scheduled unit the spring and I’m afraid which may be too late. The difficulty with inexpensive housing is twofold. The residents that live in inexpensive housing tell me that the conditions of their units are unsafe. They’re telling me of mould, water damage, rats, cock roaches and bed bugs. They are only asking for these units to take care of the standards that they use to be previously. Plainly the upkeep of this unit is being neglected. Then with other community residents, it’s the rubbish issue that is going on at these housing units. There may be garbage being dumped out front on the bottom every single day, it makes it look unpleasing. If we are able to fix this problem, then perhaps we also fix the rodent problem that is going on.
Why do you are feeling it is best to represent that district?
I feel that I’m the fitting person since I’m a life long resident of the riding. With this experience of being a life long resident I see and understand the problems that folks are bringing forward. I do know exactly the placement and the reasoning for these concerns. I’m the sitting Trustee straight away, so I actually have heard about and tried to correct the problems which have arisen in our community. Most of all I look after and love this community. I get asked on a regular basis “Why do I live here in Kingscourt/Rideau?” I tell them my wife, friends and myself have all grown up here and we now have all gone on to be great humans.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
I believe its housing and the Integrated Care Hub. We are going to all the time be in the necessity of more housing, it doesn’t all the time have to be within the inexpensive market either, there might be a domino effect. When someone buys or moves right into a recent home then that opens up a spot for another person. Most times individuals are upgrading so this can cause a ripple effect within the housing market. Then the HUB, I believe is rarely going away. First, we do need something like this to assist our vulnerable and folks in need. But alternatively, it must be higher managed. The residents of that community mustn’t must live in fear for his or her personal safety or that their property could also be stolen or vandalized. I actually have relatives that three doors done from the Hub, so I understand what goes on there. Possibly it must be moved to an area where it’s not as residential.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
I might identical to to assist our city and my community keep progressing into the long run. Help make the choices that may mould our city and neighbourhoods for generations to come back.
Michael Judd
Why are you running?
I’m running for a variety of reasons. I like this city, have family in the world, and have been visited the town commonly for just about all of my life. That is why I selected to retire here, when the time got here and it did early on account of an injury. Nonetheless; as I see it Kingston isn’t the colourful secure place of my youth. The individuals are still friendly, but far too many in challenge. At 56 I actually have the abilities and time to contribute in full, during business hours when the town is open. I actually have the experience needed to get the job done.
What needs improvement in your district?
Communication between the various departments in the town, the individuals with council and with the town is horribly lacking. Waste of resources and funds is rampant, hence an enormous operational budget for a city of this size, with taxes to suit and added levies on top. Although many on council are wonderful people, far too many lack the knowledge and available time to do the job needed to make this city great. As so many have spouse interests/jobs, with the business of the town being but a side gig.
Why do you are feeling it is best to represent that district?
I feel I should represent the district because I live in it, volunteer in it, and have an understanding of hydrology/infrastructure/and development far in excess of all others running. I even have a superb little bit of experience working with all levels of business and governance, including having presented at queens park and the OHIP Appeals and Review Board. Safety and infrastructure are the most important within the district to take care of. I do have a excellent understanding of easy methods to address among the safety concerns locally and city as well.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Trust and inefficient use of resources is our biggest challenge, be it: personal, natural resources, funds, communications, time, perception or actual lack of response or caring from just about all departments in the town. If we aren’t efficient, we cannot attract business and tourism funds decline, and we lose the flexibility to help those in the best challenge.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
I would love to see a lot better communications with the community, people more engaged in resolutions, and trust restored in the town and its leadership. I might initiate, in my ward at a minimum, a daily system of updating the constituents, in the shape of a biannual and even quarterly email and updates to social media and web sites. Voter apathy over the past variety of elections demonstrates that the people don’t have any trust within the system. I would love to see proper succession planning in regard to infrastructure and the tree cover. I would love to see the people of the town living in a more vibrant, livable, and secure environment with improved mental health and housing. This I actually have researched greatly, and have personally been into 15 encampments now, speaking with the unhoused about it. Kingston has wonderful friendly people and a lot going for it, we are able to accomplish that a lot better with what we now have.
Brandon Tozzo
Why are you running?
I’m running for several reasons. First, I spent the pandemic defending staff as an OPSEU local president. I’ve been frustrated with governments on all levels not listening to people, especially in a time of crisis. I feel there’s a disconnect and that we are able to do higher. I hope to be way more understanding of the needs of the community. Second, I worked on a municipal post-pandemic rebuilding effort through the university with the town of Oshawa and I actually have a substantial amount of policy ideas that might work well for Kingston.
Third, I actually have a son with special needs and would love to see more progress at the town level on accessibility. I believe it’s largely ignored.
What needs improvement in your district?
Here’s what I’d prefer to tackle. I’d prefer to see more traffic calming measures throughout the district, especially around Kingston Secondary and Molly Brant. I feel it’s an accident waiting to occur. I’d also prefer to see some work done on the district’s parks so young families have a spot to socialize. I’d prefer to add more greenery to the district and make it more family-friendly. Finally, there’s a major affordability crisis. I’d prefer to see more proactive measures for housing affordability.
Why do you are feeling it is best to represent that district?
I believe we’ve seen previously few years the difference that political leaders could make in our day-to-day lives. We’d like recent voices in government that may address the gaps that were exposed by the pandemic. I’d prefer to be that voice. Furthermore, Kingscourt-Rideau is changing with recent schools and young families. I feel the district needs forward-thinking leadership to advocate on city council.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Housing and affordability are the highest issues in the town. Persons are really scuffling with affording rent and their mortgages. And there isn’t enough inexpensive housing.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
I’d prefer to make sure the city moves forward on the concerns of the district: improving roads and infrastructure, traffic calming, and beautifying our parks, to call a couple of. I’d also just like the city to make some progress on addressing accessibility. Lots of the solutions are easy to implement if we now have some attention to the difficulty. We also must give attention to mitigating the consequences of climate change and doing our part to cut back our carbon emissions.
