Three newcomers to municipal politics in Georgian Bluffs are happy with how things went at their first all candidates meeting.
The meeting took place Thursday at the Shallow Lake and District Community Centre.
Ted Dixon, Randy Hingston and Tom Waller joined five incumbent councillors to meet with township residents and answer questions while outlining their platforms.
Each candidate spoke for three minutes prior to a lengthy question and answer session that drew inquiries about a wide range of issues.
These issues included the township’s strategic plan, wind turbines, waste management, the biodigester being built near Kilsyth, and the regional recreation centre being constructed in Owen Sound.
The newcomers often had to take a back seat while incumbent councillors Carol Barfoot, Judy Gay, Bob Lennox, Ryan Thompson and Tom Wiley provided many of the responses to the residents.
The incumbents also bolstered their campaigns by talking about their accomplishments and achievements while on council.
They also pointed out the municipality is in good shape as far as its finance and infrastructure are concerned, but more can be done in areas like economic development.
Dixon, an entrepreneur and a retired Inter-Township firefighter, says he and the other newcomers are at a disadvantage in trying to unseat an incumbent because many of the issues facing the township are those which have been in the forefront for many years.
But Dixon wants to work hard and listen to the ratepayers about their concerns.
Hingston, the grocery manager at Foodland on the Sunset Strip, has been involved in many community organizations and events.
Hingston says it’s time for a change on council and the municipality’s politicians need to do a better job of planning for the future.
Waller, who’s semi-retired after a long career at PPG in Owen Sound, says recreation and waste management are two areas in which he is interested.
Waller’s long been very active in local sports and recreation organizations.
Resident Bill Wilson attends many council meetings and often speaks during public question periods on behalf of the Island View Drive Ratepayers Association.
He says the township is well run but he is also disappointed in the lack of public involvement in the workings of the municipality.
Incumbent trustee Marilyn McComb and challenger Robert Wenting — the two candidates vying to represent Georgian Bluffs and Chatsworth on the Bluewater School Board — also spoke at the meeting.
Most of the questions from the public, however, were directed to the eight township council candidates.
Mayor Alan Barfoot and Deputy Mayor Dwight Burley have both been acclaimed to their posts for another term.
Burley attended Thursday’s meeting but Barfoot had another commitment and could not be there.
