5 QUESTIONS WITH MAYORAL CANDIDATE JIM RICHES

JIM RICHES IS RUNNING FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR IN THE UPCOMING 2022 KAWARTHA LAKES MUNICIPAL ELECTION

WORK-FROM-HOME AND BIG CITY AFFORDABILITY IS PUSHING MORE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER RURAL LIVING. WHAT IS NEEDED IN KAWARTHA LAKES TO ACCOMMODATE THIS?

People leaving the big city are basically equity rich or student/labour class. A council and Mayor would need to understand both groups and consider

services to benefit both. I would like to push the richer people towards building a small business, or volunteering for the community service of their choice. The struggling student and labour class could benefit

from my Tiny House Community proposal and supporting home sharing solutions like "Golden Girls of Canada." All solutions supported by council would need to focus on making City of Kawartha Lakes a forward thinking, solution oriented, beacon to all newcomers.

RISING COSTS (INFLATION/ PANDEMIC FALLOUT) BROUGHT NEW PRESSURES TO MUNICIPALITIES, BUT ALSO TO TAXPAYERS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECTING MUNICIPAL TAX LEVIES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

A 4.5% tax levy for the 2022 City of Kawartha

Lakes budget based upon future revenue, only when that extra tax revenue is spent properly? The mayor and council need to focus on pushing City staff to do just that! The taxpayer is giving their money towards these levies in good faith and voting for the right Mayor and council makes sure staff is not going to squander it.

ARE THERE ANY CONSIDERABLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE

COUNCIL TACKLE IN THE COMING TERM?

The new Mayor and council needs to monitor the huge infrastructure that is already underway, and represents money spent, instead of coming up with new infrastructure ideas. For profit land developers are already making the choice for you by planning large density housing that needs millions more revenue to develop wastewater and roads to accommodate their planning designs.

HOW CAN COUNCIL BETTER WORK TO ADDRESS A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN KAWARTHA LAKES?

I have the Tiny Home Community Plan. Also since the majority of funding for low income housing comes from the province, council needs to steer that funding to best suit the needs of City of Kawartha Lakes residents, and that involves community input.

WHAT OTHER ISSUE OR ISSUES FACING KAWARTHA LAKES DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS AS MAYOR?

If chosen as Mayor I will force accountability to the city staff, and convince the elected officials that motion is not progress unless the community which is paying for it sees actual measurable results.

To learn more about where Jim Riches stands on issues that are important to you, contact him directly at jimriches@vote4jim.ca or visit his website at www.vote4jim.ca.

Riches is vying for the mayor's seat against Kathleen Seymour-fagan, Pat Dunn, Doug Elmslie, Faye Mcgee and William Denby.