Poverty Awareness in York Region

Glenn in action

When asked by my buddy Glenn to accompany him along to a kick off for a Newmarket mayoral candidate, I wanted to say no, but, instead, the polite Glenn to "olive branched" me an out before replying by offering to call me the following day just prior to him going, and, if at that time I wanted to go with, we'd do so. Always the procrastinator, I agreed.

Mayoral Candidate Chris Campbell listens

As I say, my first reaction was no, mainly because I'd heard the candidate running against him was doing so only because no one else was, and that he did not expect to win. Also because I love politics but I hate the politics of politics, if you will. If I have no reason to be around it, I certainly don't want to just for the sake of it, but complacency in a mayor or council is the worst thing you can have in politics, and the need for adding "new blood" essential to maintaining civic order.

Obviously I chose to go, and was mildly surprised to see a fairly full room of would be supporters of this candidate a local lad come home to roost, but, always the skeptic, especially when it comes to politics, I arrived with both guards up.

Maple Bacon Flavoured Chips eh? Lol

As Glenn dashed off to take his myriad of a million great pics, I asked some questions, wanting to know about this Chris Campbell who dared challenge the almighty municipal Lord Mayor Van Bynen for the town's mantle-head, and came away impressed.

Firstly, him being a local boy, to me anyway, shows he has some invested emotional interest in the town. As I explain it, someone who grew up around a special tree has an attachment that someone not growing up in the area may know enough about to appreciate. But I certainly needed more than that from anyone running, and, as I learned more, liked what I heard.

Watch Chris Campbell's campaign launch highlights here

Here was a mayoral candidate, actually talking about jobs and acknowledging that at 8 %, Newmarket is running unemployment a full percentage point above the national average - in one of the most prosperous areas in the country. Someone who dared say that Newmarket should be demanding a better deal from the Region, instead of rambling off googly gok, and understanding that businesses are hurting! He's also someone who is well schooled - specifically for politics too - so understands its complexities as well as the business side, through spending years as a successful business person and who is now willing to invest himself back into this town.

Newmarket Mayoral Candidate Chris Campbell

To me his words were a beacon of hope - someone who gets that it's a town full of people, and not a small group, who should be benefiting from everything this town has to offer. He even spoke about some hockey and soccer players having to play in other towns to afford it, something he found appalling - whereas Tony Van Bynen attended the grand opening of a car dealership last Oct 17, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, ignoring for a third year in a row the invitation to attend, even to say hello. Asked if he'd be attending our youth road hockey event in 2014 he said to send his office an invite. I did. No reply. Complacent.

Diane Humeniuk, greeting people like old times!

So when Diane Humeniuk, a former Regional / Councilor herself, and long time personal acquaintance of mine, whom I had no idea was involved, spoke of Chris returning e-mails in her introduction of this candidate, I knew what she meant.

At this point, Campbell seemed far from just a guy  running for the sake of it, but instead a guy with substance, some smarts and maybe indeed the change this town needs to keep it from turning into whatever the region, province, feds, and corporate friends of the mayor tell it to be. He certainly impressed me in that regard and comes with much more credentials for the job of managing, a now small city than the former bank manager Van Bynen ever did. And photo ops of VB hob-knobbing with C.E.O.'s scare, not impress me.

Curious Newmarket residents attend

This is still our town. Other people than the status-quo can run it. Better. And before it's gone, and before council become too complacent, we best find someone else to lead - a leader, which Chris Campbell also spoke of - leadership - and this guy seems worth a look see. Don't take my word for it though check out his website for yourself - but he seems certainly qualified and genuinely seems to care, and that my friends makes him a serious candidate that I believe we can trust to tend for our town. More at least.Lol.

End of night shot!

Also on hand this night was Regional Councilor candidate Darryl Wolk whom I first met some years ago in relation to a sponsorship for our community youth award. The jixt of what I hammered home with Darryl, was that when it comes to municipal politics, I actually don't care what party you support provincially and federally, I want someone who is willing to work with anyone. That what I liked about municipal politics, is those party's flags are not needed, and, in fact, should not be paraded out at all in my opinion. Darryl agrees. Yay. Lol.

There was another person there I didn't so much agree with (surprise of all surprises! lol) - As I believing council members should be full time, especially now as the town grows out of control, we need full time conentration - and him believing otherwise...Arggg..politics again..Don't get me started! Gle-e-e-enn! Let's go!

Tom Out!