It’s official

I am a candidate for Regional Council to represent St. Catharines for the 2022-2026 term.

For months, I wasn’t sure I was going to do this again.

When nominations opened, I figured I’d get my signatures and then decide if I was going to file the papers or tear them up.

I filed the papers.

Over the last four years, I have really enjoyed representing the people of St. Catharines. I have enjoyed the work of helping residents resolve issues, and I have enjoyed the work of following through on what I said I would do during the last campaign.

Now, for the proverbial elephant in the room…

Most of you know there was a good deal of unpleasantness for me as well. Some of that unpleasantness continues still today, and I don’t see it going away.

Being a vocal woman in politics is difficult. It doesn’t have to be, but it appears to be some people’s mission to make it so.

And, over the last few years, I’ve heard a lot of: “If you don’t run, they win,” and that’s true, they would win, and I would have been fine with that, because I did not sign up for this particular competition; the competition of how much abuse I can take to remain in politics.

However, what has been demonstrated to me throughout all of this is that there is far more good; far more support in the community, and I am extremely grateful for it.

When I told my ex-husband this morning, “I’m doing it. I’m filing my papers at 1pm,” he replied, “You are good for the community…and there are many more people who will be happy that you do than the number of people who you will irk,” and I think he’s right.

Campaigning won’t begin in earnest for several weeks yet, and there will be opportunities to support me in my campaign, whether it be through donations of funds or time.

Given some of the messages I’ve received over the last few months, I will not be using lawn signs for my campaign, as I don’t want to put anyone’s personal property at risk of vandalism. Plus, those lawns signs really aren’t great for the environment.

I look forward to communicating with you more over the next several months about why I should be re-elected to Regional Council for another term. I am eternally grateful for all of your support the last few years, and I hope to have the honour and privilege to continue to represent St. Catharines at Regional Council.

In the meantime, if you would like to read more about the specific work I’ve done at Regional Council since 2018, you can review all of the motions/direction to staff I’ve brought to Council and Committee here.