In 2011, right after the 2010 election, I became Amherstburg’s first local blogger. Having a record to review to make more informed decisions about future candidates was my goal.

I was also the first one to facilitate questions to the candidates, for which I endured threat of legal action and harassment.

Some candidates ignored me while others were happy to answer. Even though I allowed for generous deadlines, one claimed she couldn’t meet it. Funny how she posted about 45 tweets in the same time frame; I discovered just how nasty some people are.

Another candidate was nasty when I shared my observations of what appeared to be a slate. (I’m sure there will be more commonalities among candidates in 2026. The facts are not my opinion).

As a person with disabilities, and an advocate, I let candidates know about their inaccessible campaigns. Anyone excluding a marginalized community, while hypocritically campaigning to represent everyone, wouldn’t get my vote. Attitudinal barriers are obvious.

In 2014, the three candidates who created websites had accessibility issues. In 2022 more candidates used social media yet didn’t provide accessible information, even after I pointed it out to them and after they received information about conducting accessible campaigns. Lori Wightman’s website had accessibility issues in 2018 and 2022. 

Noteworthy about the 2022-2026 council:

• the more restrictive procedural by-law limiting citizen participation; delegates can only speak to an issue that’s listed on the agenda and if it’s accompanied by an admin report or a by-law.
• Councillor Crain and Deputy Mayor Gibb voted a couple of times against audience members speaking to council.
• the amount of time some council members spend on self promotion while ignoring emails from residents.
• failing to meet the January 1, 2025 AODA deadline.
• no decision on an inaccessible town hall.
• claims of inaccessibility at the library without accountability for statements (Councillors McArthur and Allaire).
• pickleball – almost $500,000.00 June 2023: ‘The motion has passed now the thorny issue of how do we pay for it?’ said Mayor Prue. (yes, money is found for some things).
• a future fire hall being slowly built

Unchanged Common Themes:

• lack of decorum (I blame a lack of leadership for allowing the incivility)
• council 4-3 divisions
• excessive kudos to staff
• staff participation in council meetings
• demands for FOI requests
• a high number of in-camera meetings
• lack of public consultation
• preferential treatment (some items get moved quickly)
• over expenditures
• police costs
• ableism
• lack of commitment to accessibility – a decades old issue.

Thank you to those who continue to follow, stay connected and share my vision of a more inclusive community.