Municipal District of St. Stephen Ward 1 Candidate: Wade Greenlaw
1. As candidates, what would be your key priorities over the next four years in your community?
The next few years will be key. We must create budgets that help address the affordability issues our residents are currently experiencing, but allow the municipality to continue to grow responsibly while chipping away at the large infrastructure deficit.
2. How would you achieve those priorities within your mandate?
Disciplined and strategic budgeting. Leveraging funding and support from our provincial and federal partners. Looking for savings on a regional basis by combining resources where possible. Make clear informed decisions that balance immediate needs with long term goals and sustainability
3. How will you ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions and communication with residents?
More frequent and clearer communication from the municipality. Tracking of action items in council and committee meetings and better community engagement to ensure we understand the issues and receive feedback
4. What is your approach to managing growth and development while preserving the character of the community?
Growth that is well planned and thoughtful. Asking the residents and businesses what their vision is of our community is. What type of growth do they see as being appropriate. Create our plans from that, then move forward with purpose and determination.
5. What is your position on property taxes, and how would you balance affordability with maintaining services?
All services and levels of government need to be looked at very closely for cost effectiveness. Essential services are priority and we move out from there. The municipality must be able to say they are doing everything possible to keep costs in check befor we ask residents for more funds or to accept reduced services. This means intrusiveness by council into budgets and operating protocols.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward, and what experience do you bring to the role?
As an incumbent I bring experience, continuity and understanding of how municipal decisions affect our community. I have been part of the processes and challenges for our community and our region for many years. I understand the many opportunities we have at our fingertips and the hurdles we must overcome. I also deeply appreciate the unique lifestyle or our rural residents and how important that is to maintain. As always I am more than eager to listen and to help.
Our goal is to present each candidate fairly and consistently, giving residents a clear understanding of their choices ahead of election day. If you have any questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to your response.
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.
