ELECTION 2018: OPEN LETTER TO MIDLANDCOMMUNITY.CA
 
First, I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving weekend sharing precious moments with family, friends and neighbours. While the weather didn’t fully cooperate, we have so much to be thankful for.

While the decision to endorse some candidates over others is never an easy undertaking, I’ve had a steady stream of voters ask whom I believe will do the best job building a complete community and who will lead Midland to greater prosperity.
 
For this reason, I’ve completed a thorough assessment of all twenty-seven candidates and their platforms in order to provide recommendations for your consideration. I’m sharing this e-mail broadly so voters with busy lives and demanding jobs can hear from someone who dedicates a lot of time following events in this great town we call home.
 
I believe the recommended candidates for ‘Team Midland’, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be an improved line-up to start the next season. My picks build on a base of six current members of Council who have shown the ability to make Midland a better place through some tough decisions around talent, taxation, policing, and, public assets to name a few.
 
To this base of six proven candidates, I also recommend several new and diverse faces who have demonstrated grit, talent, integrity and experience in their personal and professional lives.  Here are my picks for ‘Team Midland 2018’:
 
MAYOR
Stewart Strathearn (current councillor for Ward 3)
 
DEPUTY MAYOR
Mike Ross (current deputy-mayor)
 
WARD 1  (elect 3)
George MacDonald (current councillor)        
Jonathan Main (current councillor)
Shannah Aube and Beth Prost BOTH warrant serious consideration
 
WARD 2  (elect 3)
Glen Canning (current councillor)
Cody Oschefski (current councillor)
Roberta Bald
 
WARD 3  (elect 1)
Cher Cunningham
 
I wish to recognize and thank all the candidates who are vying for a seat on Council and who participated in the many events hosted by several of Midland’s community partners. Running a serious campaign is hard work and this year there were truly more good candidates than positions available.

My general approach was to focus on the positive when trying to prepare a list of recommendations.  However for some candidates, it is impossible to avoid reasons why they DO NOT deserve your support even if you do not agree with my recommendations about those who do. 
 
For example, there is a group of former council members trying to make a comeback - people who taxed Midland into the financial mess we were in back in 2010 with tax increases four times the rate of inflation, stifling growth and placing enormous pressure on Midland’s ability to provide valued services needed to move forward. It makes no sense to let past leaders repeat past mistakes.


In addition there is Ward 2 candidate Bill Gordon who is the driving force behind a website that comments on local matters.  Through most of its existence that website operated as an unofficial propaganda vehicle for the Midland Police Service.  Mr. Gordon began this while he was employed by the Midland Police and hid behind fake names to avoid disclosing his involvement and personal stake in Council’s decision on OPP policing.  Just a few days ago he accidentally outed himself by making a comment on a Facebook page. 
 
The same website is responsible for cheap character assassination attempts directed at a number of local residents. Mr. Gordon and his supporters are also using the website to promote their own political aspirations and agenda. The website recently anonymously posted a slate of candidates that shows Bill Gordon as a top pick and recommends against every single councillor who voted in favour of OPP policing. To make matters worse, the slate was posted in advance of the Chamber of Commerce and the BIA hosting their meet the candidate events- a total disservice to the voting members of the public and the balance of the candidates.
 
Whatever your view about the above recommendation for ‘Team Midland’, a person like Bill Gordon is a very poor choice to serve as a member of our Town Council. It has been said time and time again that past behaviour is a pretty good predictor of future behaviour.
 
Based on the past, it is very hard to trust him to separate his personal interests from those of the Town. Trust and respect should be at the core of everything we do, especially when one considers service to the public.
 
Sincerely,
 
Roy Ellis
Founder of MidlandCommunity.ca

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BE SURE to VOTE on Election Day
October 22^nd from 10:00am – 8:00pm at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre (NSSRC).
 
Note ADVANCE voting option at NSSRC:

Wednesday, October 10^th- 11:00am - 8:00pm
Thursday, October 11^th- 11:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday, October 13^th- 10:00am - 8:00pm

Midland Matters, You Matter and Your Vote Matters!
 
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