Grand Manan Candidate: Jared Corless
1. As candidates, what would be your key priorities over the next four years in your community?
My key priority would be a full audit of all taxpayer dollars spent and complete transparency as to where the money is going, and how its being spent and publishing it so everyone is aware.
2. How would you achieve those priorities within your mandate?
I would achieve this by being fully transparent with the audit, piece by piece, with regular updates and if there are any discrepancies or issues regarding the spending of the tax payer dollars. The issues need to be highlighted and reported to the constituents of Grand Manan, as well as giving them an outlet to be vocal about how the dollars are being spent. Weather it be through social media polls or posts, the people have a right to have their say on how their money is being spent.
3. How will you ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions and communication with residents?
The transparency would be done through social media. My plan would be to start a separate social media page where only the voting constituents of Grand Manan are allowed on, and before each upcoming vote, they would have the opportunity and responsibility to chose how they would have my vote cast, and thats how I would vote. It would purely be an instrument for the people of Grand Manan.
4. What is your approach to managing growth and development while preserving the character of the community?
My approach would be a cautious one. There is absolutely a great opportunity for Grand Manan to grow and expand in many areas but I think that the current businesses of the island need to be consulted to understand the problems they are facing as well. So that we are not counter productive. And proceed with their consultation so as not to harm our current business infrastructure.
5. What is your position on property taxes, and how would you balance affordability with maintaining services?
My opinion on property taxes is that some taxes are necessary for essential services, but this would tie back into auditing the entire government spending on the island. I believe that in todays world, we are facing the challenge of rapid inflation and that property owners are now being charged too much to live in their own homes that they have worked so hard for. Especially the elderly population as some of the property taxes bills are more then some mortgage payments for the year. So, I would like to lower property taxes and change laws to lessen the burden on the tax payer but all of this stems on a full audit of government spending.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward, and what experience do you bring to the role?
To represent the people of Grand Manan would be a great honour. I want to give back to the community in a way of service that still gives them a voice after I have been elected, by letting them have constant inclusion and transparency to the role that has not been seen before in politics by using social media to give the people a continuous opportunity to vote using polls and surveys on social media that I would follow. I do not know if I would be the best choice to represent them, but i would do my very best to make sure that they still have a voice after the election is over. My experience in managing and listening to people throughout the years since I have moved to the island with my family to work at KCS has made me appreciate everything on the island, and I want to give back by being as transparent and honest with the public so that they can still have a voice and not be left out after the election is done.
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.
