Clarke running for mayor of Berwick
Don Clarke, who is re-offering for the position of mayor of Berwick, recently provided responses to a Q&A SaltWire is providing to municipal election candidates.
Q. What is your full name?
A. Donald Everett Clarke
Q. Where are you from?
A. I was born in Berwick and lived here most of my life. After Teacher's College and Acadia, my first teaching job was in Halifax, where I lived for five years. When I first moved back to the Valley, I lived in Weston, Kings County, NS. In 1983, I moved to Berwick.
Q. What did you do before running for office?
A. I was a high school math teacher and after completing a Guidance Specialist Certificate and a Computer Science Certificate, I worked most of my career as a school counsellor.
Q. Why have you chosen to run in this election campaign?
A. I have received encouragement from many people to continue the progress we have made over the first two terms.The pandemic has added complications to the mayor’s role and the town will need an experienced, steady hand at the wheel to navigate the next couple of years. I am involved in several projects that are well underway or just being started and I would like to see them through to fruition.
Q. What strengths would you bring to council if you are elected?
A. I have gained valuable experience over the years as a councillor and as mayor. I have served on all committees of council and have been actively involved in the many regional and inter municipal bodies with whom we work.
Q. What do you see as the biggest
strength/asset of the community and what measures would you take to capitalize on them?
A. Berwick’s strengths are many. We are blessed with a wealth of volunteers in the region. So much of what we have comes from volunteer effort. We are proud owners of the Berwick Electric Utility and by maintaining ownership of the utility we have access to revenue we would not otherwise enjoy. We are blessed with excellent staff who provide our numerous municipal services.
Q. What one message do you hope to get out to the voters during this election campaign?
A. We have had some great success over the last eight years. Berwick has become known for our green initiatives and for our quality of life.
Q. How can people contact you?
A. Phone: 902-538-9768 (home) or 902-690-7455 (cell)
Email declarke22@mac.com