TWO DOZEN CANDIDATES FAIL TO OFFER ‘BIG IDEAS’ OR INSPIRE MUCH HOPE IN VOTERS FOR STRUGGLING GRAVENHURST NEXT FOUR YEARS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION

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GRAVENHURST — The Opera House was overflowing this evening with two dozen candidates tripping over each other on stage eager to say how much they loved their town.

And more or less wouldn’t improve or change little between now and 2030.

Making for a no nothing — or know nothing — Gravenhurst candidates meeting.

All of them appearing naïve when it comes to local politics if not life in the jobs they aspire to and asking voters to put their trust in them. This despite all good intentions of some nice people.

No wonder Gravenhurst is running a distant third behind Huntsville and Bracebridge.

Little distinguished any of those running Oct. 26 (with voting commencing Oct. 14). No standouts or knockouts.

No spunk at all.

Shamefully not a word about council and its last spike decision to abandon the Train Station as a Northlander stop. Nothing on the state of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

And next to nothing substantive on the Cliff Bay condo projects other than they all want “reasonable development” — just not this one with cabannas over Lake Muskoka.

None said what development they would accept to bring back life to the morbid Gateway to Muskoka. Or offer up any alternatives. To them the status quo is working will suffice for another term of four years.

Or at least until the province’s next “strong chair” leads to an amalgamated “one Muskoka.”

All this after another too recent lack lustre summer of tourism, trade and commerce.

Almost 300 family, friends, supporters and voters were on hand for the two-hour marathon of motherhood and apple pie.

Ward 1 candidate Heidi Welker put in perspective: “It is clear and exciting to hear how our community — and that is you — want Gravenhurst to thrive. And I want that, too.”

Which says as much about the current council as the future councillors.

For all the talk about leadership there was no leadership on stage — only a race to the bottom.

Instead there were a lot of platitudes: boring, overused statements that expressed obvious truths without offering any original thought, deep insight or genuine help.

Leaving to wonder how two dozen of the community’s most diehard and civic minded — they’re running for council — could know or understand so little about their town and what make it tick.

Acclaimed councillor Randy Jorgensen claimed as much as half the council could be new.

Only former fire chief Larry Brassard offered anything concrete on high taxes.

“My taxes have gone up 20 per cent the past four years.”

He said he’s put a cap of 5 per cent per year, adding: “I would advocate for a tax freeze locally, save and except for those contractual commitments already made (collective agreements come to mind). We have excellent staff here in Gravenhurst for the most part and they deserve what they have legally bargained for, but let’s hold the line on spending and truly look for real efficiencies. The current annual tax increases are not sustainable for families here in my humble opinion.”

Incumbent mayor Heidi Lorenz and several of her council members said Gravenhurst kept taxes to the second lowest in Muskoka.

There was nothing for voters to grasp on to and take inspiration from.

Everyone beat on a dead horse. A downtown that’s been deteriorating for decades that if it were at the post in the King’s Plate it would be scratched or shot.

BIA ‘resurgence’ and ‘village’ people

“It’s making resurgence,” declared district candidate Erin Strength. “Just watch.”

Not sure if if was said with her tongue in cheek. But same thing she admitted saying four years ago on the stage.

We tried to focus on any positives, but their lack thereof resulted in more negativity merely by the dearth of any desperate new “big ideas” or long shots to improve the plight of Muskoka’s once promising and plausible dream town.

Save from a couple of mentions, including from Ward 1 candidate Gordie Merton who wants a trolley running round town. Linking the Wharf, downtown and the dreaded Northlander train stop — a recurring theme for several speakers who envisioned thousands of Torontonians, GTAers and foreign visitors pouring off the rails to populate vacant home and boost the local economy.

There was more talk from several, including mayoral candidate Jo Morphy, about not having growth but a little “village.”

“When I think of a downtown, I think of it as a small village, welcoming and charming.”

She did float the idea of parking on only one side of the main street to allow a wider sidewalk with café tables.

Sam Ennest tended to agree. The former resident of Huntsville and Bracebridge says Gravenhurst is the “homiest home” she and her family have lived in. They love its “small town” feel and lifestyle of neighbours who care for each other.

Many pinned their hopes on the downtown core — the “heart” of the community said Merton.

Truthfully the handful of blocks on Muskoka Road constitute but a small fraction of the total business community.

Said Lorenz: “I would like to see the BIA expanded and re-established. And I would like to see the town hire a contract position to support that growth. I think that we have done some very valuable work so far.”

After 16 years on council and spending $400,000 this term on Community Improvement Program grants how’s that worked, Heidi?

She added the town navigated its way through two major snow and ice storms.

Her opponent Jeff Watson talked about focusing on growth along the larger Hwy. 11 corridor and “expropriating” poor performing main street properties. He’s looking to return to council.

“We have a lot to offer when you think about it…,” chimed in Pollyanna Penny Varney, the Ward 1 councillor seeking higher dual office at the district level, while also noting that when she moved to town in 1975 there were 13 women’s wear shops. She’s had her own jewellery businesses.

She, too, talked about lingering landlords with vacant storefronts: “If they don’t fill their stores or if they can’t show us that they’re trying to do something, well, they’re gonna have to be fined.”

The town was recently forced by public outrage to enact a vacant building bylaw. To no effect to date.

Opening question: ‘biggest accomplishment’

The opening question of the night presented by the Chamber of Commerce was: “What was your biggest accomplishment the past four years?”

(There were no questions from the floor, only advance questions solicited from chamber members and currated by staff.)

Fair enough for those re-running, but hardly the same for first-timers who mostly responded with laudable family achievements about themselves growing up in Gravenhurst or having an “I survived growing up in Gravenhurst! t-shirt.”

Lorenz did say: “We have the second lowest four-year tax increase across Muskoka. And we paid down over $5 million in debt.”

While also falsely taking credit for second floor improvements at the new Gravenhurst Health Hub (Rotary), 598 new housing units (developers) and “over 2,600 tons of waste diverted from Muskoka’s only landfill (residents).”

She also claimed she “kept all my promises.”

“These are only the highlights. This past council has been successful by every measure. We are moving in the right direction.”

Fourteen new candidates tonight and on the ballot beg to differ.

The fourth mayoral candidate, Marc Mantha, said he has no political capital to run on and his only accomplishments were “the town’s accomplishments.”

A sentiment echoed by Merton, who said “Look at what we’ve done for the town on our own. Wait till we get on council and see what we do.”

Ward candidates, Ward 1:

In their too brief one minute opening statements, Erin Gauthier, who is also seeking the lone Ward 1 seat, began like most others re-iterating her candidate council profile, noting her frontline job working at south Muskoka’s women’s shelter and her passion for assisting vulnerable women in their personal times of need.

She did at least state the obvious elephant in the room, saying she’s “seen a decline” in the downtown, which drew loud applause.

Merton, a multi-time candidate, said he’s not in this “just at election time or for photo-ops.” He’s fighting for the struggling legion.

Brad Rundle, also seeking a Ward 1 seat, cited his arts connections as a former Opera House manager. He’d like to see a “big idea.”

Elizabeth Shannon, also in Ward 1, read from her bio: “Supports responsible growth that strengthens our economy and plans for the future while preserving the character, environment, and quality of life that make Gravenhurst special.”

Heidi Welker, too in Ward 1, quoted from her candidate profile: “This past four years I have also proudly served our community on the Awards committee, Grants committee, and served as a Board of Trustee for the Gravenhurst Library.”

Ward 2 candidates:

Ward 2 candidates Stephen Sims is a retired dental teacher from Western University, who would like to see the town lighten up on its bylaw enforcement.

His opponents, real estate agent Anita Latner and David Kellam, are strictly Muskoka Bay Property Owners Association proponents. She’d like to unite the MBPOA and town more. And says Gravenhurst is “only a three-season town.” He’s “not your typical politician,” but who would like to “give back to the place I love.”

Ward 3 candidates:

In Ward 3 Carol Anne Lemoine sees the next term of council dealing with a 30-year official plan she wants a say in as it sets the town blueprint till 2059. The Morrison Lake resident says Gravenhurst is “not just a summer stop. Remember us in February.”

Brassard, her rival, is a former cop and realist who is currently the acting fire chief in Muskoka Lakes Township “until December I told them.” That’s why he couldn’t fill in here in Gravenhurst when the current chief stepped down last month and moved out east after five years. Brassard also filled in the same acting role in Huntsville and Georgiana Township for six months each not too long after serving eight years as chief in Gravenhurst.

Ward 4 candidate:

Jorgensen stood staunchly by his mayor and council, while also noting he and wife Sue were in the final class at the Ryde Public School before he went on as the first president of the highly successful Ryde Co-op. He’s looking for a fourth term.

Ward 5 candidates:

Ward 5 candidate Sam Ennest said she was most proud of her two kids, who live with autism and she is also as a GAP volunteer who wants to advocate for the impoverished.

Tina Kilbourne, Ward 5, relies on her 26 years in municipal government, the past 16 working now at the district in community services. She’s also a successful author.

District council candidates:

Twenty-four-year councillor Sandy Cairns, now at district, was absent tonight due to a family health emergency.

District council’s four candidates present — Varney, town councillors Strength and Christina Hunter and new comer Jaden Hollingshead did little to win many more votes by squaring off over “affordable” (attainable) housing and “fabric of life.”

School board trustee candidates:

School board candidates Esther Childs, a former trustee, and Louise Clodd, the incumbent, talked about 35 cents of every tax dollar going to Ontario schools.

And the need to boost the voter turnout beyond the typical 30 per cent.

Nine council members:

There are four candidates running for the Gravenhurst mayor’s chair:

Five for Ward 1 — one to be elected

Three for Ward 2 — one to be elected

Two for Ward 3 — one to be elected

One in Ward 4 — acclaimed

Two in Ward 5 — one to be elected

And five for district council — three to be elected

See candidate profiles here — or https://www.gravenhurst.ca/gravenhurst-votes/candidate-profiles/

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