JACKSON JOINS MAYOR’S RACE
Candidate says despite only a year on Stratford town council, now is the time to jump at opportunity
With a little more than a year under his belt on Stratford town council, Jody Jackson, 41, has decided to run for mayor in the Nov. 5 municipal election.
Jackson ran in a byelection in May 2017 to fill the seat vacated by Diane Griffin, who was appointed to the Senate.
Jackson told The Guardian on Monday that he’s following his late mother’s advice – when you feel passionate about something, it’s worth doing.
“And, I’m passionate about my community. I said this was my opportunity. If it was ever going to happen I want to get out there and get some of my ideas out,’’ Jackson said.
Jackson, who resides in Stratford with his wife, Jillian, and eight-year-old son, Dylan, is the second candidate to seek the Stratford’s mayor’s chair. Steve Ogden, who also currently sits on council, is also campaigning for the job. Incumbent Mayor David Dunphy is not seeking reelection.
Jackson doesn’t think his lack of experience at the municipal level is an issue.
“I’ve had a lot of great experience in working with government relations and through my (job) at Workers Compensation Board. Our town is made up of people of all ages and background but there’s a large portion who are young families like mine and I think that’s what’s really driving me to run. I think my young family’s perspective is important.’’
Jackson’s top priority will be to work with the province to find solutions to school infrastructure concerns and traffic issues on the Hillsborough Bridge. Exploring funding and partnership opportunities for affordable housing in Stratford is also one of his big goals.
Jackson also plans in increasing economic development opportunities and re-establishing the economic development officer position within the town to cultivate an ‘open for business’ mentality.
Jackson currently chairs the town’s sustainability committee and serves as vice-chairman of recreation, events and culture. He has helped spearhead several initiatives, including upgrades to minor baseball, softball and park infrastructure, establishment of the smoke-free committee as well as the newly established Kelly’s Pond Watershed planning committee.
“We have some major decisions to make in the next four years, in the next four to 10 years and we’re talking about 10-year, 50-year infrastructure pieces,’’ he said, citing the need for a new high school as one of those pieces. “We’re quickly running out of land . . . there is really little to no land available for commercial business. I think it is a priority right now. That’s something I’d like to deal with.’’