Municipal elections 2017 Stanstead
There are three candidates running for the position of mayor in Stanstead; incumbent Philippe Dutil is seeking a third consecutive term as mayor. He is up against former mayor Raymond Yates (2002-2009) and Michel Duclos, a new arrival to the area.
Mayor Dutil said the main issue in the three villages at the moment is the new well, a project that has been in the works for years.
“We’re going for tenders this spring,” Dutil said. The new well will not only solve the water quality issues in Beebe, but also serve as a backup for Rock Island and Stanstead, Dutil said.
“We need to draw more young families to Stanstead,” Dutil said, explaining that around 40 per cent of the town’s labour force comes in from other municipalities.
Dutil has 15 years experience as a councillor and two terms as mayor of Stanstead.
“I consider myself a full-time mayor,” commented Dutil, when asked what makes him a good candidate.
“If people need to meet with me, no problem,” he said, always available to discuss issues with citizens.
Dutil added that the fact that he was born and raised in Stanstead and is fully bilingual also gives him an edge in the mayoral race.
When asked what his vision would be for the next four years, Dutil said he would work on bringing new people to the area.
“We have to focus on what we have,” he said, while working on new projects to benefit the municipality.
Among them are a hotel project, Dutil added. “We met with people, we came close,” he said, explaining a hotel would be a big win for the town.
Dutil also said that Stanstead has applied to become an Amie des Ainées municipality, making the town more friendly and accessible to seniors.
Michel Duclos, who moved to the area five years ago, said he would like to improve Stanstead’s reputation.
“It’s very negative,” he said. Duclos said the town’s biggest issue was to bring new businesses to the area and create jobs.
When asked what makes him a good candidate for mayor, Duclos said the town needs new blood.
Referring to Dutil and Yates, Duclos suggested that ideas and motivation can decrease after too long in a job.
“I have a new outlook,” Duclos said, hoping to bring new ideas to the table.
When asked what his vision would be for the town, Duclos started by saying he wouldn’t govern from an ivory tower.
“I’ve already met with business people,” he said, explaining the importance of getting to know and connecting with local stake holders, something he claimed the current council didn’t do.
Duclos said he would like to change the way the town is run to be more transparent and involve the population in decision making.
Duclos is French and admittedly speaks little English. Even so, he said council meetings should make an effort to be bilingual.
According to Duclos, there are other personnel in town hall who are bilingual and could answer technical questions in English.
Raymond Yates said the decreasing population of Stanstead is a big issue.
Around 10 years ago, the population was over 3,000, Yates said, adding that it currently sits at just over 2,640.
He said approaching the Montreal chamber of commerce and promoting Stanstead’s proximity to the border would be a good way to attract new industries to the area.
Yates also said that the health care provided by the CLSC does not meet the needs of the town.
“We could use more doctors,” Yates commented.
Yates was a councillor from 2000-2002 and mayor from 2002-2009.
“I know my way around the MRC,” Yates explained, saying his previous experience makes him a good candidate.
“Taxes are one of the highest in the MRC,” Yates said, “that has to do with spending.”
Yates’ vision for the town would be to improve health services in Stanstead, work on infrastructure and try to bring more businesses to Stanstead.
There are 13 candidates in the running for the six available council seats. Among them are five of the six current incumbents.
Paul Stewart (incumbent) is running for Seat 1 against Nathalie Belleville.
Nicholas Ouellet (incumbent) is running for Seat 2 against Deborah Bishop.
Gilles Charbonneau and Hélène Hamel are vying for Seat 3.
Incumbents Frances Bonenfant and Wayne Stratton are running as councillor for Seat 4.
Seat 5 has three candidates in the race; Joel Azevedo, Matthew Farfan and Joshua Richer.
Guy Ouellet (incumbent) is running for Seat 6 against Guy Lachance.
Reminder:
There will be a candidates forum on October 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 98 Principale (former Église St-thérèse) in Stanstead.
Anyone interested in meet the candidates running for mayor and council seats is welcome to attend.
Each candidate will have an opportunity to give a 2 minute presentation on his or her qualifications and platform. After the presentations, the public will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the candidates and ask questions one-on-one.
Coffee and doughnuts will be served. Advance voting for the Stanstead municipal election takes place at Sunnyside School, Sunday, October 29 from noon to 8 p.m. Election day voting takes place at Sunnyside on Sunday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.