Community News

PETER LANZA 'FEELING GOOD' ABOUT ELECTION CHANCES

KEVIN WERNER kwerner@ hamiltonnews.com

Peter Lanza thought he had a good chance to win the Ward 9 municipal election in 2018.

In 2022, Lanza, after his educational experience four years ago, said he is even more confident he can defeat incumbent Coun. Brad Clark.

"I put in the work, I put in the time. I expected to win in 2018," said Lanza, a commercial sales representative for MD Charlton, a leading law enforcement, military and outdoor equipment since 2015. "I have more experience this time, so I feel good this time."

Lanza in 2018 finished third behind Clark, who had 2,539 votes and defeated incumbent councillor Doug Conley, who received 1,961 votes. Lanza was close behind with 1,529 votes.

This time, Lanza has a website, an endorsement from Conley, and some pointed questions for Clark over transparency and conflict of interest issues.

During the Cable 14 debate, Lanza hammered Clark for declaring a conflict of interest 24 times while also being reprimanded by the integrity commissioner.

"This has affected your ability to government," said Lanza.

Clark during the debate responded he had declared a conflict because it is the rule. As for the 2021 integrity commissioner report on his conduct about talking about city staff, he issued multiple apologies to staff and councillors and removed himself from leadership positions.

"I take my integrity seriously," said Clark. "I have complied every single time."

Unseating an incumbent Hamilton councillor is always difficult, but not impossible — as Clark proved — and Lanza is "unafraid" of the challenge.

The main issue Ward 9 residents are facing is the cost of living, with higher prices for homes, utilities, and almost everything else. And the COVID-19 pandemic hit families hard. But they still had to pay their taxes during the crisis, said Lanza, a married father of two who has lived in the ward for 25 years.

"There were no breaks in taxes," said Lanza during an interview in the summer. "People lost their jobs."

So it's no surprise Lanza is targeting Hamilton's high taxes as a main contention for residents' concern. In 2020, the city approved a 2.9 per cent tax increase, in 2021, it was 1.9, and in 2022, the tax hike was 2.8 per cent.

"A lot of people are struggling to make their lives better," he said. "We are one of the highest taxed areas."

There is also the question of Hamilton council's integrity after the sewage spill into Chedoke Creek that was hidden for four years and the ongoing Red Hill Valley Inquiring that is costing the city so far about $26 million.

He said council "swept" a lot of the information "under the carpet" and the public wants to know what happened, and how to prevent it from occurring again.

"People don't trust government," said Lanza. "They don't trust politicians."

Ward 9 has a limited transit service, and if residents want expanded bus routes, area rating for transit may have to be eliminated at the expense of increasing taxes. It's a complicated issue that Lanza wants to examine before deciding on which way to go on the issue.

"We need to find out where the money is being spent," he said.

Residents also want better policing, especially after there have been "several" break-ins in the ward, including in Summit Park.

"People are very concerned," he said.

Lanza, during the Sept. 20 Cable 14 debate, said he supports expanding the urban boundary because residents fear the exploding growth that is projected to occur. He said they don't want to live beside triplexes, fourplexes or highrise condominiums. He said constructing higher towers means additional parking, traffic and inevitable congestion.

"Expansion is the best way to go," he said.

Municipal Election

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2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281917366957083

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