Dilkens on ballot seeking second term as city mayor
Incumbent points to ‘proven and successful track record’
Mayor Drew Dilkens filed his nomination papers Tuesday morning, officially confirming that he will seek a second term as Windsor’s mayor.
“In 2014, we went to the public with a proven plan,” Dilkens told reporters outside city hall. “We implemented that plan over the last four years. It has worked and we have a proven and successful track record.”
The mayor pointed to how the city’s unemployment has dropped from 9.7 per cent down to 5.9 per cent during his tenure. He also highlighted the city’s “record investments” in roads, sewers and infrastructure during his first term. “We have done all that while continuing to hold the line on taxes at 2.4 per cent over the four years — amongst the lowest in Ontario,” Dilkens said.
Dilkens, 46, has been a member of city council since first being elected as a councillor representing South Windsor’s Ward 1 in 2006. He replaced former mayor Eddie Francis who stepped aside in 2014 after three terms and more than a decade on the job. Dilkens won the mayor’s seat during the municipal election that year when he outpaced both former mayor John Millson and downtown business leader Larry Horwitz.
So far, Dilkens faces four other challengers seeking the mayor’s seat — the most high-profile being former local chamber of commerce CEO Matt Marchand. Other candidates include Frank Dyck, Tom Hensel and Ernie Lamont. The deadline to file nomination papers for the Oct. 22 municipal election is this Friday at 2 p.m. The mayor took aim at Marchand during his campaign launch on Tuesday.
“In the early stages it’s already clear that organized labour will push my competitor,” Dilkens said. “What’s the motivation? Look at the 1990s when my competitor worked in the mayor’s office and debt was ballooning. It’s fair to say labour at that time had a toehold in the mayor’s office.
“I’ve always believed I work for all residents of Windsor and that’s what I will continue to do. I look forward to comparing my track record to my competitor and having that conversation with the public.”
Marchand, who worked in the mayor’s office during the 11-year tenure of Mike Hurst, responded Tuesday by saying the difference between the two candidates will be clear by election day and voters can make their own decision. “The Marchand for mayor campaign is about bringing everyone together — business, labour and the community,” he said. “We aren’t leaving anyone behind. “We look forward to having a community-wide debate over the next three months and we welcome candidate Dilkens to the race. We will be releasing our platform on a weekly basis and the contrast will be clear, so voters can render a judgment on Oct. 22.” After filing his nomination papers Tuesday, Dilkens also noted that property values have increased “dramatically” in Windsor during his first term. “People don’t invest in cities when there is nothing going on,” he said. “We have a lot of positive things going on.”
If elected again, Dilkens said he would like to see further enhancement to community neighbourhoods such as Sandwich, Walkerville and Ford City. He wants to continue attacking basement flooding and sewer woes.
He also believes the city has addressed crime and growing drug addiction problems by recently hiring an additional 12 police officers who will be assigned strictly to deal with those issues. Dilkens has a bachelor of commerce degree and a law degree from the University of Windsor. He also has a master’s degree in business administration from Wayne State University and doctorate of business administration from the International School of Management in Paris. Dilkens is married to Jane Deneau and has two children.