At 10am this morning a press conference was held at the walking bridge in Wallaceburg at which Jeff Wesley announced his candidacy for Councillor in Ward 5 Wallacebug.
“This morning I filed my papers to stand as a candidate for Councillor representing Wallaceburg” Wesley told reporters.
“The location of my announcement today, the downtown walking bridge, was chosen for a couple of reasons” said Wesley, “It is close to where I grew up and went to school on the south side; our community needs jobs and this is the heart of our business district; and, the river basin represents the unlimited potential of our community.”
Wesley told the Daily Post that he wants to expand on the good things that are happening in Chatham-Kent and continue building for a positive future.
In speaking with reporters, Wesley said there are three key areas of focus for him and they include a commitment to “never stop fighting” for the smaller hospitals – which he says are not only important for health, but also serve as a important component in the economic development of an area as well.
Second, Wesley cites job creation as being paramount. “We have some very good work being done over at Economic Development, and I look forward to working with Kathy Weiss and Stu McFadden as we seek to strengthen our local small businesses and industries, as well as look for opportunities to encourage new companies to set up operations in Chatham-Kent.”
Third, Wesley says taxes are an important issue in these tough economic times, and that he is committed to ensuring responsible spending by the Municipality.
When asked about his position on the Capitol Theatre, Wesley says he will support the theatre in hopes it will be a success – allowing Chatham-Kent residents to get a return on the investment they’ve made in the Capitol. He was very clear however that he was absolutely against any more of Chatham-Kent’s tax dollars going into the theatre.
“I’m going to support it in an effort to see the people of Chatham-Kent get the money they’ve put into the Capitol back out” he said, “But no more taxpayer money going in.”
Below is text from the official release document prepared for this morning’s address. In it you will find various information regarding Mr. Wesley’s experience and service history, as well as additional comments on the Capitol, taxes etc.
Experience & A Strong Voice For Wallaceburg
Experience:
- 15 years in elected office – the last Mayor of Wallaceburg and first Councillor in Chatham-Kent representing Wallaceburg (1985-2000).
- 25 years business experience.
- Small business owner.
- Honours B.A. (Western) and LL.B (Windsor).
- Born, raised and educated in Wallaceburg.
A Strong Voice:
Whenever Wallaceburg faced its greatest challenges I have stood up, spoke up and taken a leadership role in the best interests of our community.
- Sydenham District Hospital – I have fought for SDH since 1989 when Matt Miletic asked me to help raise $2.0 million for SDH and I am still involved today as the Chairperson of the SOS Committee and a member of the SDH Corporation.
- D.A. Gordon School – Slated to close I took a lead role to save this jewel of the south side.
- Financial Crisis – Our community faced a financial crisis and, as Mayor, rather than raise taxes we cut the cost of government ($500,000 saved). It was not easy but it was the right thing to do. When the amalgamation took place Wallaceburg was the only community where the taxpayers received a tax rebate of $2.5 million based on our strong financial track record.
- Chemical Valley spills into our drinking water source – I stood up for our community & industry paid the full $1.4 million cost of our new water tower.
The Future:
I will bring my dedication, experience and strong voice to tackle the issues that lay ahead:
1. I will never stop fighting for our hospital, the patients and the dedicated people who work there.
2. We need jobs, jobs and jobs. I will be tireless in seeking ways to bring jobs to our community
- from supporting existing industry and businesses to working to attract new ones. Everyone deserves the opportunity of a job.
- With a new CK EDC team (Kathy and Stuart) I am very excited about the opportunities.
- The Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee must be supported.
3. Taxes – we all work too hard for our money and waste at the municipal level cannot be
tolerated. I will seek out and speak out against wasteful spending and keep your taxes as low as
possible.
- Capital Theatre – I really and sincerely hope it flourishes (and I will do everything I can, but no more taxpayer money, to make it a success so we can recover every taxpayer dollar) otherwise it will become a drain on municipal resources and a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. Let me be clear – I would not have voted to spend the millions that have been overspent here. There was a lack of accountability.
- Convention and Exhibition Centre – Municipalities should not be landlords nor run businesses that compete with local entrepreneurs– this is best done by the private sector.
- OMERS Pension Shortfall hits in 2011– a 40% increase in employer contributions over the next three years =a budget impact of $500,000 to $1.2 million.
Current Volunteer Work:
- Member, Board of Directors and Campaign Volunteer – CK United Way
- Member, Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee
- Chairperson, Save Our Sydenham Committee / Member, SDH Corporation
I take nothing for granted but I can promise you that I will not be outworked by any other candidate. I look forward to speaking with members of the community as I campaign the old fashioned way – door to door.
Jeff Wesley
Rob
Brian Cleeve
Aaron Hall
Michael Cowtan
Jay Smith
CKDP Staff
Greg Hetherington
Marlee Robinson
Chris Prince
I thought Jeff Wesley was running for the Liberals in a possible federal election – was he not nominated by his riding association and accepted the nomination? He’s been around so long maybe I’m mixed up!
I was certainly surprised to see that he would try to “recycle” himself at the municipal level yet again.
“Recycle”..geez I am only 52 years old…lol. I am not being recycled becasue I never stopped working for the Burg. Back in 1989 I joined the fundraising team for SDH when asked to do so by Matt Miletic. I have stood up for SDH every year since then so while I may not have been on council I had never really stopped what I was doing. If you read the entire news release you will see why I am getting back involved – our hospital…need for jobs…taxes – you just can do so much more as a councillor than as a private citizen.
Jeff.
Jeff, if you really want to do anything for Wallaceburg’s hospital, you need to run provincially. At the end of the day, hospitals are a Provincial responsibility under section 92 of the constitution. Chatham-Kent Council really has zero control over what is or will happen at SDH. So your point about wanting to get back involved locally because of our hospital is a mute point.
Can only help at the provincial level? Wow then please tell me how the SOS has been so successful? Thankfully there are others out there that are willing to work towards a goal and see it thru till the end.
Laughing -
Wesley has BEEN working continuously with SOS… this is not something he’s “wanting to get back involved locally” with.
He’s been at it a year and a half already, and knows where he needs to be, having been quite successful so far.
But I’m sure he appreciates your advice.
Just as I really appreciated “mute point”.
Haven’t we established that the term is ‘moot point’??? or is it ‘moooo’?
silent like a cow…
for which party would he run? There are already candidates in place for the Liberals and PCs in Wallaceburg area.
The PCs closed 28 hospitals, cut funding, and amalgamated Sydenham with Chatham. No option there.
Harry – for a municipal election you do not have to be affiliated to any political party.
Hospital matters–yes, correct. I was responding to previous item that wesley should run provincially. He’d have to run as an independent, as the main parties already have candidates.
Regardless, lots of interest in this municipal election! That’s a good sign!
Jeff did not run for Fed Lib. – He promised to focus his attentions on SOS.
Which he did.
Cookie, Jeff stated he would not run for the Federal Liberals as his primary focus was the SOS, and he kept true to his word.
As for your ‘recycle’ comment, Jeff is very passionate about the community (as evident by his volunteer work, and previous endevours) and I for one consider myself very luck to have someone with his drive, and experience in our communities corner.
As a candidate I look forward to standing with Jeff as we have on many issues that have affected Wallaceburg over the last few years, Jeff much like the others candidates give of their personal time on many issues that affect Wallaceburg. Let the campaigning begin.
Wesley ran federally in 2008 and 2006, losing by a wide margin both times. He is a worker, that’s for sure, but there are so many “I’s” in his remarks, he could be an optometrist!
Mr. Wesley says “The Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee must be supported.” and is a “Member, Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee”. Surprise he is a member and wants the Municipality to “support” it. What exactly does “support” entail? Is this a Wallaceburg project or a Chatham-Kent project?
There is a difference between working with and “supporting”.
I actually think Mr. Wesley is a great candidate but as the last mayor of Wallaceburg he had input re. the amalgamation; hopefully he is now looking to the future and not dwelling on the past.
The Chamber EDC is an all volunteer committee fully supported by the CK EDC group. I am a volunteer member but have resigned due to my announcement that I will be a candidate for Council. The volunteers on this committee are excellent and they need to be supported as one prong of a multi pronged approach the economic development. As I said in my news release I am very excited about the opportunity, if elected, to work with Stuart and Kathy in the new CK EDC team. They both have fresh and innovative ideas and I am and will continue to be a positive supporter of their efforts.
Jeff Wesley
I trust that Mr. Wesley will also support all of the other Chambers of Commerce that flourish in Chatham-Kent. I’m still of the belief that the efforts of the “new” Chatham-Kent Chamber was to try and infringe on the territories of the other Chambers outside of Chatham, but I’ll probably never know.
With regards to all the Federal Liberal questions, it should be noted that not only is he not a Federal Liberal candidate but no longer belongs to any political party.
Hi: This is Jeff Wesley. Thanks for the comments.
Please allow me to be very clear – I am not now nor will I be the candidate for the liberals (or any other political party) in the next federal election. In fact I do not hold membership in any political party. When I joined the fight to save SDH I stopped supporting any political parties as our hospital was and continues to be more important. Furthermore if elected I will serve the entire four year term and will not leave to pursue other elected opportunities. I have made this same promise in the past and always kept my word.
Thanks for your interest. Any further questions can be sent to votewesley@hotmail.com…although I will continue to check this forum as well.
All the best….hope to see you all at WAMBO.
Jeff.
As with previous elections, Wallaceburg (Ward 5) continues to have an abundance of astute and community minded individuals put there names forward to serve the constituency. It is good to learn that someone as capable as Mr. Wesley has offered his exceptional abilities to work for the betterment of Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent as a whole.
I have known Jeff Wesley since I was very young and he has always been a moral and just man (in my opinion). It is good to see you champion a cause such as save the SDH. There a few of us (my self included) who would not still be alive if it wasn’t for the Hospital. It is good to see you involved in Politics and running to represent the community of Wallaceburg. If the community only had a few more men of your incorruptible calibre. I also disagree with the you need to run provincial (although i do think you’d make a great mp). You have alot of influence locally and if you make a difference here people will recognize that. Heres to hoping one day i can make a difference in such a great community as Wallaceburg.