The next step

Deputy mayor running for top council spot in Middleton

Dan Smith sees the mayor’s seat as the next natural progression in his council career.

Smith, the Town of Middleton’s deputy mayor, hopes to replace retiring mayor Calvin Eddy following the upcoming round of municipal elections Oct. 15. Former mayor Sylvester Atkinson is challenging Smith for the top spot on council.

Smith joined Middleton’s town council eight years ago, spending the last four years as deputy mayor.

“I’ve never missed a council meeting. I’ve never missed a committee of the whole meeting in eight years… and I take pride in that,” said Smith.

Smith operates Balanced Books Accounting Services Limited on Commercial Street in Middleton. As a business owner, he says he’s keenly aware of how the decisions of council impact commercial and residential taxpayers alike.

“I’m here every day; I talk to people all the time. They tell me what they like and don’t like,” he said.

The Middleton Regional High School graduate believes the newly elected town council will Dan Smith, Middleton’s deputy mayor, is vying for votes in a two-way race to become the town’s next mayor following the municipal election in mid-October. have some tough discussions while trying to decide how to maintain service levels and improve infrastructure at a time when communities throughout Nova Scotia are struggling with population decline.

“I think this council has worked very hard at expanding the services and recreation facilities but still keeping the tax rate relatively stable,” he said.

Moving forward, he said infrastructure upgrades must continue to be treated as a priority, but the council must approach large projects that would require a significant amount of borrowing with caution.

Listing the new fire hall pro- posed for Middleton as an example, Smith said he believes other levels of government must commit to funding a portion of the multi-million dollar project before it can go ahead.

“I think the fiscally responsible approach is to make sure that we can afford it,” he said.

“We hear that the tax rate is high in town. I don’t want it to go any higher and I won’t sacrifice the town for any one project.”

That’s not to say he’s completely opposed to the idea of Middleton having a new fire hall.

“It’s needed - no question. But we can’t do it alone,” he said.

Smith said he was proud to support the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of Main and Commercial as well as projects that broadened the town’s recreational offerings throughout his time on council.

He sees future opportunities in continuing to make the business park more appealing to developers, and pushing the province to do more to support regional economic development initiatives within the Annapolis Valley.

Smith chose to return to Middleton with his family 15 years ago knowing the community boasted schools offering three levels of education, parks and athletic facilities, and a hospital.

Noting that Middleton also has a nursing home now, Smith said the municipal council elected in October will represent a community that has something to offer people of all ages.

“We have basically everything a family could want,” he said. “Let’s work hard to keep it that way.”