Atkinson is back Former Middleton mayor in the race for top council spot
When eligible voters in Middleton pull up the electronic ballots on their computer screens, tablets, or smartphones, they’ll have two choices for mayor – and one of them is Sylvester Atkinson.
Atkinson bowed out of municipal politics more than a dozen years ago but says he now feels the need to leave retirement and work for the benefit of the Town of Middleton.
The four-time former Middleton mayor faces current deputy mayor Dan Smith at the polls in the Oct. 15 municipal elections. And to make it a true race, nine candidates are vying for six council seats.
Atkinson, a retired school teacher, has served a total of seven terms on council, and has also served in executive positions on both provincial and federal municipal organizations – the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. And he said he has seen the benefits that Middleton enjoyed from being involved at those levels.
Atkinson was around for some major infrastructure upgrades in the past, and wants to make sure the town is in a position to take advantage of available funding for future infrastructure needs or other major projects.
He cites past examples such as $500,000 for the town’s wells that enabled it to abandon the Lily Lake and Second Lake supplies that were far from desirable; in excess of $1.75 million in infrastructure funding for the upgrade of the sewage treat- ment plant; $60,000 for the last rebuilding of the swimming pool, among others. And that’s funding he said would perhaps not have happened without his active involvement at the provincial and federal levels.
“One main goal will be, if I am elected, to see that future projects of major cost are, to use the words of both our former MP as well as the recent visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to see that proposed projects are ‘shovel ready,’” said Atkinson. “Let’s not simply talk about them, but be ready so that funding doesn’t pass us by again.”
Atkinson served as chairman of the Middleton Nursing Home Society that succeeded in having a nursing home built in the town. Now he wants to see more attention paid to senior citizens and would pursue expanded facilities in the town.
“It is time to convince the province that more beds are needed, as both the design and needed land were incorporated in the present facility,” he said.
“With new faces joining some who have already been on council, we can form a team to lead Middleton over the next four years,” Atkinson said. “I realize the importance of being at meetings here, but it is also vitally important to be meeting with the other two orders of government to see that our voice is heard and our needs addressed.”
During his previous terms as mayor of Middleton, Atkinson became only the 36th person in more than 60 years to be added to the Roll of Honour by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The citation reads: “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the federation and to municipal government in Canada.”
Atkinson is an active volunteer in the town and is a member of the Middleton Fireflies who support the fire department, a member of the Rotary Club, enjoys helping seniors, and has been a Middleton provincial volunteer of the year. Atkinson has made 312 donations to Canadian Blood Services, and aims to walks 10 kilometres every day – and he usually succeeds.
He urges the citizens of Middleton to vote – no matter who the candidates of their choice may be.