Goulbourne running for regional chair
Former Welland mayor files nomination papers to join the race
Damian Goulbourne filed paperwork Tuesday to enter the race for Niagara Region’s first elected chair.
The former mayor of Welland is a Niagara College staff member and has written columns for The St. Catharines Standard.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,” Goulbourne said.
“I’ve talked to my family as well as friends and peers. We’ve been talking about our lives and what we would like to see in the community … The vote people cast in October will be historic. It will be a moment for everyone to decide the future they want for Niagara.”
Niagarans head to the polls Oct. 22 for municipal elections.
John (Ringo) Beam of Niagara Falls is the other declared candidate for chair. The current chair, Alan Caslin, of St. Catharines, hasn’t announced his intentions. Nominations opened May 1 and will remain open until July 27.
Goulbourne made his announcement as he filed nomination papers at Region headquarters with a group of supporters, including his campaign’s manager, Liz Palmieri. Palmieri is the former executive director of Niagara Community Foundation. She had worked as a strategic consultant for charities since her retirement from the foundation in 2016.
The race for chair is a large undertaking. The area a candidate has to cover is the equivalent of four federal ridings and encompasses more than 1,900 square kilometres.
“I’m really lucky to have Liz Pamieri on the team,” Goulbourne said. “I have a core group of volunteers and acquaintances that I’ve met along the way. We will grow the team as we connect with others along the way.
“We have been out there speaking to people, getting to know the community and gaining an appreciation of what the issue are. We plan to spend the time interacting with people across Niagara.”
Goulbourne, a lifelong resident of the Niagara, lives in Welland with his wife and three children. Aside from his duties at the college, he operates a small consulting business and works with community-based groups on leadership and goal setting.
He said he would be announcing more specific goals as the campaign unfolds. His campaign theme is “Let’s Work Together for a Strong Niagara.”