Grand Manan Mayoral Candidate: Norah J. Davidson
1. What is your vision for the municipality over the next four years, and how will you measure success?
I want to see Grand Manan with a clear path into the future; priorities decided with consultation in the community at large and with Council’s dedication to the plan. I feel that the priorities and achieving them are currently not well understood by the constituency. Progress on a new ferry, ensuring our Hospital remains vibrant, a Roads and Streets plan, development of recreation opportunities for everyone, capital spending choices and funding, tourism, conservation, housing, planning. Success will be seen when we are on a common , known path to long term success as a community. success will be measured by the opportunities developing on Grand Manan and projects undertaken. Grand Manan people need to know together to grow together.
2. How will you balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining and improving municipal services?
A steady budget is the most valuable tool in the box, after a strategic plan. If we don’t know what we want to buy – that’s a dangerous time to be spending. Plan what we want and need, and then the spending priorities fall in to place. Look for funding partners, and multi level government programs and opportunities. Sometimes the availability of second and third party funding justifies shifting priorities. Borrowing is sometimes necessary but never desirable. Last rule of budgeting- pay attention to it and stick to it.
3. What is your strategy for long-term infrastructure planning and funding?
We need to build the short term and long term Strategic Plan so we have a guideline. Some projects can be tackled over several years , which can facilitate funding, as well as looking to other levels of government, and even private sector collaboration. Once we have a plan, it has to be reviewed regularly and frequently to keep it relevant.
4. Many communities in the region are experiencing population changes, including aging populations, affordability issues, homelessness. How will your leadership address workforce retention and attract new residents?
I think Grand Manan has a bigger problem housing our people as well as new residents than we do attracting people. The complaints I hear are about finding a place to live here. This applies to seniors as well as young families and employees and entrepreneurs. Grand Manan is a place that inspires small businesses and the arts. We need to make it easier to come here, and make sure the supplies come here and the visitors come here, and product leaves here.
5. Describe a difficult decision you’ve made in a leadership role. How will that experience inform your approach as mayor?
Any decision I have made, as a lawyer, an elected politician, as a Lions Club official, even as a parent or grandparent, any event that requires a “NO” answer can be difficult. It is tried and true that “You can’t make everyone happy all the time”. We have to do our best, and sometimes explain why it didn’t happen the way someone wanted it to. I always found that listening to people before making a decision works best, and makes even the hard decisions easier.
6. Why should voters trust you to lead the municipality at this time?
I will listen to people, and I will be fair to everyone. THe door is open, and the Village business is open. Voters, taxpayers and residents are our constituency. They have a right to know what we are doing and what it costs. Information will flow both ways if and when I am Mayor.
I am attaching a photograph, which I hope is suitable for the purpose.
Each candidate was provided with the same six questions and equal limits on response length and time. Candidates who did not have publicly available contact information through Elections New Brunswick were required to contact The Courier in accordance with its Municipal Election Coverage Fairness Policy. Candidates who did not respond or declined to participate are noted. Failure to participate will not result in additional coverage elsewhere in the newspaper.
