Pelham mayoral candidate profiles
The Tribune asked all mayoral candidates the same questions.
Carla Baxter
Age: 65 Occupation: Retired from Canada Revenue Agency as an auditor and customs/immigration inspector. Retired owner of a successful retail store in Fonthill.
Family: Married to Robert Baxter. Have a daughter and son, as well as two grandsons.
Previous political experience: Worked for the federal government for 32 years in various positions. Community involvement: None
Top issue: Ensuring the Town of Pelham maintains its financial integrity and obtaining the confidence of the residents back through the accountability and transparency of the operations.
Why are you running?: We live in a truly beautiful area and it is important that we maintain it this way for the future generations through sensible development
Why should voters choose you?: As an auditor and business owner, I developed strong and fiscal responsibility, organizational and people skills that I believe are needed to do a good job as mayor on behalf of our residents
Contact info: Phone: 905 964-4141; email: carlabaxter02@gmail.com; website: www. carlabaxter.ca; facebook@carlabaxterformayor
Gary Accursi
Age: 69 Occupation: Retired dentist
Family: Married for 47 years to wife Mall, has five adult children (three boys and two girls) and nine beautiful grandchildren
Previous political experience: Served as Ward 2 councillor for eight years
Community work: Volunteered on and chaired many committees including church board, Big Brothers Big Sisters, various town committees and sport organizations.
Top issue: Managing the growth of the town to create the neighbourhoods we would like — safe, walkable, green space; with a variety of housing types to provide housing for all sectors.
Why are you running?: I know and love the community, I have a vision, a plan to bring the vision to life and the experience to make it happen efficiently and effectively.
Why should voters choose you?: My experience in business and on council, my knowledge of planning and development; my ability to build consensus have prepared me to lead council.
Contact info: Cell: 905-733-0730; email: gary@garyaccursi.ca; website: www.garyaccursi.ca; www.facebook.com/Gary-Accursi1985664391496538/
Marvin Junkin
Age: 64 Occupation: Cash crop farmer that grows hay, wheat, corn, soybeans
Family: Married to my wife, Candi, and have raised four children.
I currently have five grandchildren
Previous political experience: Was elected to Pelham council in 2014 and resigned after serving three years for ethical reasons.
I thought the decision made by the rest of council to hide the facts of the town’s dire financial situation from the town’s residents was an act of deception that I wanted no part of.
Community involvement: I was a coach in Pelham Minor Hockey for eight years.
Why are you running?: I am the only candidate that promises to open the town’s financial books to determine the true extent of the town’s debt, which would be the first step in rebuilding trust with the residents.
Why should voters choose you?: Voters know that I will put their interest first because I feel they own the town and they have a right to know how their money is spent.
Contact: Email: marvinjunkin@gmail.com; website: www.marvinjunkin.com