Pellegrini responds to editorial

I have to believe that the Nov. 1 editorial, entitled Experience and the track record are key, must have been written tongue in cheek, a ploy to generate some interesting reading in the week prior to the election of a new mayor. Certainly if the Sentinel editor did in fact write the piece, I am extremely disappointed that he has sat through many council meetings and still does not have a good grasp of an elected politician's responsibilities.

The editor takes issue with the fact that I have a perfect attendance record saying that this is essentially meaningless. I have come prepared to every council and committee meeting and have actively participated in every one. If you are not at the meeting, you cannot vote and represent your constituents, it is that simple. And, unlike our current mayor, I will be able to represent King at the Region without having to declare any conflicts of interest on an on-going basis. I find it

very disappointing that King's only voice at the Region, in the last term alone, has had to declare an interest or conflict at 12 out of 31 meetings (that's 39 per cent) which means that she has been unable to discuss or vote on these issues which may have significant impact on King. That is what I consider flunking.

And while I understand that everyone is tired of the sewer topic, the editorial again brought it up; so let me set the record straight once and for all. I have been elected twice as councilor of Ward 1 to represent the wishes of my constituents. Those wishes were for a local sewer system sized to service the population in our community plan, similar to the one that will be implemented in Nobleton. I am proud to say that I consistently and honestly represented my constituents over the last six years. The fact is that others on council and at the Region (all of whom were not directly affected by this decision) chose to

ignore the wishes of those affected; in reality, they chose to fight not I. As the saying goes, it takes two to make an argument and, in our democratic society, voters expect their elected officials to represent their wishes and not to go against them.

Your editorial also suggested that my opponent and I have the same position on just about everything, the bottom line is, actions speak louder than words. Regarding Township finances. Over the current mayor's tenure, the Township has accumulated $2.5 million in new debt and looking ahead to our future debt load, we will have to fork out more than $1 million for municipal property hook-up costs, and our credit limit will be strained to finance loans to King City and Nobleton residents for their portions of the capital costs for sewers. My opponent attempts to reassure the public that we are financially sound, pointing to positive auditor

reports, whose reports evaluate the manner of past financial reporting rather than the future. And while my opponent touts economic development, the Township has had no concrete strategy or tools to market King and has done nothing to attract new corporate business taxpayers or to assist existing King businesses, which is necessary to correct our tax imbalance.

My campaign focuses on what is not being delivered by the current mayor. Sticking to the growth allowances in our community plans; following established processes for decision making; getting meaningful financial support, transit, police and social services from upper levels of government.

My campaign is not political opportunism, my opponent has had her opportunity, I think we all know it's time . . . it's time for change.

Steve Pellegrini, Councillor Ward 1 Candidate for Mayor