New to the political scene, Avia Eek said she is running for Ward 6 seat on King Township council because she believes that the farmers there need a voice.

Eek believes agriculture in King has been pushed to the back and nearly ignored.

“About 56 per cent of Canada’s agricultural land is from

Ontario and it is being paved over and taken out production,” Eek commented.

She said feeding the people is important, so farms need to be protected.

Eek was voted twice by local farmers to be on the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association.

“I am also the only female on the board,” she added. “They really have confidence in me.”

Eek said her husband is a third-generation farmer, as his grandfather was a farmer and his parents are farmers.

“I believe the farmers need a voice,” Eek said.

As for the proposed peaker plant that Pristine Power Inc. is planning

for the Marsh area, she believes that is the wrong location.

“I won’t disagree that we need the power, but it’s for future development,” she commented.

“We don’t need it right now and if it goes there it will affect the farms.”

“If we can’t feed the country we are not a successful nation,” she said.

Eek said she didn’t know how to view her

chances of election, observing that time will tell Oct. 25.

“I have never been involved with politics,” she commented.

“I am a farmer so I can speak on the behalf of us all,” Eek added.

“So many people in my community have been telling me to run.”