Merritton, I want to be your voice on
St. Catharines City Council!
VOTE for
David Haywood as your Representative for the Merritton Ward during the 2014 St.
Catharines Municipal Elections on October 27th
David Haywood
Phone: (905)
324- 0123
Words from Dave Haywood:
“Making St. Catharines a place where future generations can prosper is
extremely important to me. Too many families, younger individuals, and
businesses are choosing other municipalities for political, social, and
economic opportunities not currently available within our city. If elected, I will work relentlessly to make
St. Catharines a place where my children and future generations will not only succeed,
but will spectacularly flourish. The
time is now to RAISE THE BAR as city councilor - please grant me your vote
and share in my vision!”
There is a
lot of work to be done within St. Catharines socially, economically and
politically.
If elected, I
will work towards the following goals:
Social Road Map:
·
Work with Panoramic Properties
Inc. to ensure that the Old General Hospital site is redeveloped in a
sustainable way. A way which follows the smart growth principals as outlined in the City’s Official
Garden City Plan and Official Green Plan
·
Ensure Panoramic honors a
planned financial contribution to the city for greening earmarked for the
continued restoration and beautification of Centennial Park
·
Increase the city’s tree
canopy cover which has sustained serious damage by invasive species during the
past few years
·
Continue the beautification
of Hartzel Road, Community Park, and their surrounding neighborhoods
·
Work with community
groups/organizations to expand local community gardens similar to the one
located on Oakdale Avenue (Centennial Park)
Economic Road Map:
·
The City has debt and credit
risks set to increase dramatically within the next few years. I will take a
leading role to review all city expenditures with the goal of freezing or
keeping budgetary increases at or near zero. With stagnant population growth the
tax burden on residents cannot continue to increase. Families are struggling
financially and need relief!
·
Transit: increased regional
and full GO Train transit. We NEED this locally!!! If the employers are not
coming to the city, then the City’s residents need access to the employers. We
need transit that is affordable, reliable, and sustainable - locally,
regionally, and provincially.
Political Road Map:
City council needs to nurture the
current regional/city political relationship. Locally we need to be more active
in regional planning from a political standpoint. The current dichotomy which
includes sparse city/regional
political engagement which is not helping local residents. Too many hands in the pot - decreasing
political accountability. Regional councillors and city councillors should be
on the same page - ALWAYS! Running the city is a full-time endeavor and the
time is now to start treating it as such.
A councillor with strong methodological and
rational ideals - reinforced through educational pursuits and blended with
experience - should be the standard not the exception as a representative of
the Merritton Ward. Below are some highlights which I feel will assist me as a
City Councillor.
My Education:
In 2006, I went back to school at Brock
University. I focused on how a municipality is run - bureaucratically and
politically. Additionally, I studied the relationship of St. Catharines
with regional, provincial, and federal forces and how these forces influence the
day-to-day lives of local residents.
In 2013, I graduated on the Dean’s list
(with distinction) with a combined undergraduate degree in Political Science
and Geography.
Notable areas of academic study
included:
·
Urban Planning - completed
academic research on the City of St.Catharines Official Garden City Plan and
Official Green Plan (under the tutelage of retired City of St.Catharines Chief
Planner Paul Chapman).
·
Economics - completed
academic research on the City’s economy and how it is influenced by different
regional, provincial, and federal factors (under the tutelage of Jeff Boggs - a
leading academic figure concerning the City’s and Niagara Region’s economies).
My Experience and Community Service:
·
Supporter and past volunteer
of the St.Catharines Boxing Club - working with the youth in the Merritton Area
·
Co-Chair of the
St. Catharines Green Committee - a volunteer position appointed by St. Catharines
City Council in 2010 (till 2014)
·
Regular Volunteer with local
school boards - serving yearly as a honourary judge for the Historical fair; and
in numerous schools as the liaison for the St.Catharines Green Committee and
their partnership with the NPCA and their Canopy for Kids program
·
Regular Volunteer with the
Fresh Air Fund of Niagara - bringing New York State kids to enjoy and experience
the natural beauty locally
·
Help administer and run the http://www.merritton.com website -
promoting local residents, businesses, and community events.
·
Member of the Merritton
Community Group.
