Is previous council experience really needed? Four years ago, three candidates without any council experience were elected to council: Ron Sutherland, Carolyn Davies and Bart DiPasquale. During the past four tumultuous years, residents witnessed:

• a high rate of staff turnover
• a record amount of debt
• flip flops on the:
  • financial audit
  • St. Joseph’s Church in River Canard
  • Sandwich Street repaving
  • installation of railings at what is now the Libro Centre
• the discussion of the sale of a municipal asset – essex power shares
• public input not being welcomed
• two references to ‘lynching’ regarding a public meeting
• Ombudsman Ontario’s finding that council contravened the Municipal Act by voting in a closed session in March 2011
• Ombudsman Ontario’s Report that confirmed council repeatedly contravened the Municipal Act and its own procedure by-law. Council discussed issues in closed session that were not permitted under the exceptions to the Municipal Act, and also routinely engaged in improper voting behind closed doors in December 2011
• UCCU Centre naming scandal and subsequent lawsuit
• no commitment to the cost-saving OPP policing option
• grants for the tourist booth and Laird Avenue and not Texas Road
• the decision to close the tourist booth due to budget
• 5 CAOs in four years
• the hiring of CAO Phipps, his notice to leave and then his decision to stay
• a council approved secretive process to hire CAO Miceli
• a lack of provincially mandated policies
• a lack of commitment to accessibility, including the town’s website.

Is this the experience the community wants to continue with? Tomorrow’s the big day – it’s up to the voters to decide what they need.