Battle of experience
Charlottetown’s Ward 6 has two sitting councillors and a former councillor in race for the seat
Residents in Charlottetown’s Ward 6 (Stonepark) are guaranteed of getting one thing in the Nov. 5 municipal election — a councillor with experience.
The incumbent, Bob Doiron, is back to defend his seat.
Melissa Hilton, who currently sits on council as the finance chairwoman, is one of his challengers.
And, David MacDonald, is back looking to regain the seat he lost to Doiron in the 2014 election.
The Ward 6 battle also sets up a rematch between Hilton and Doiron who both lost to the Green Party’s Hannah Bell in the District 11 provincial byelection last year.
For the previous three terms, Hilton has represented Ward 9 but due to the new election boundaries this year she’s able to move back to Ward 6, the ward she lives in.
“I don’t think that’s a story,’’ Hilton said of her rematch with Doiron. “I know I have a passion for the city, in general, and a passion for the area that I live in as well, so I don’t look at it as a rebattle from the byelection. It was all about the boundary changes.’’
Doiron said while he has a good relationship with everyone on council he was caught off guard by Hilton’s decision.
“I was a little disappointed or shocked,’’ Doiron said, “but that’s politics, right? I just do my best to represent the people.’’
MacDonald said it makes no difference to him.
“Melissa is running. Bob is the incumbent. I have to beat whoever runs and I don’t care who runs,’’ MacDonald said. “I have no problem with Melissa running in Ward 6, absolutely none.’’
As for the issues, Doiron said he’s been in the process of laying the groundwork for a new Sherwood Recreation Hall.
“The (current hall) is kind of past its prime, per se. It’s still in half decent shape, but I think our community would benefit from (a new one),’’ Doiron said, adding that he’d like to see improvements made to Cody Banks Arena.
Doiron is also anxious to see the $4.5 million water and sewer restoration project wrap up this year.
“We’re hoping to get it finished by the end of the year.’’
Hilton sidewalks and speeding are big issues in Ward 6.
Another ward matter she’s passionate about is fighting for the future of the Charlottetown Fire Department’s Station 2 in Sherwood.
The city is looking at a new fire station just off Malpeque Road but hasn’t decided whether it will operate two or three fire stations.
“If there is a third station built than Station 2 needs to remain exactly where it is. It’s all about equality of services,’’ Hilton said.
For MacDonald, the issues are around policing matters — speeding, stop signs and enforcement.
“Most of the long streets (like) Oak, Pine, Kenlea, Woodlawn, Belvedere, Maple, those kinds of streets the concern is not only the amount of traffic but the speed that it goes,’’ MacDonald said.
“In the majority of the cases the residents are not concerned about the development as much as they are about the trafficrelated issues that surround the developments.’’