COBDEN — There were 21 candidates facing the crowd of about 400 at the all candidates meeting held at the Cobden Agricultural Hall Monday evening.
The event was hosted by WhitewaterNews.ca and organized by editor Connie Tabbert and businessmen Ronnie Laronde, Ted Barron and Dave Stewart.
The school board candidates were incumbent Collette Stitt and Andre Yonkeu for the French Catholic school board and incumbent Dave Shields and James Dobson for the Renfrew County District School Board.
Whitewater Region Township council candidates filled the rest of the tables. They included mayoral candidates incumbent Jim Labow, Doug Shields, Hal Johnson and Joey Trimm, who is a current councillor; Reeve candidates incumbent Don Rathwell and businessman Terry Millar.
There are 11 candidates vying for the five councillor positions: incumbents Allen Dick, Daryl McLaughlin and Cathy Regier; Donald E. Broome, Donna Burns, John Felix Cull, Charlene Jackson, Joe Kowalski, Dave Mackay, Chris Olmstead and Howard Winters.
Each of the candidates spoke for two minutes, mayoral candidates for three.
Prior to the start of the meeting, those attending had opportunity to submit a question for any council candidate, whether it be for one candidate or all 17 of them.
Moderators Dave Stewart and Ted Barron then had each candidate pull a question of out a bag with questions for them and one question was asked and answered by each candidate. This was then followed by questions from the floor.
Questions asked and answered included consulting fees, recreation, township roads, care of lakes within the township, what the priorities are for the township, why the township is using the Ontario Clean Water Agency instead of its own trained employees, how to promote the township, how to help the Whitewater Historical Society, contracting out covering the dump instead of purchasing a hi-hoe, which side of Muskrat lake is Hwy. 17 going to be rebuilt on, why a property owner would have to get ministry staff to come onto her property to prove what she says she has done, why are dead people being mailed voter cards while some of those alive aren’t receiving voter cards, and why is Mr. Millar running for reeve and Mr. Shields for mayor with no previous experience.
While many of the answers seemed to satisfy the audience, there was one that wasn’t answered to anyone’s satisfaction. The question asked to Reeve Rathwell was if those council candidates who are involved with “grievances” with the township would be able to vote at the council table if elected. Reeve Rathwell said he would prefer not to comment.
Mr. Barron said the evening was well attended and many questions asked and answered. He encouraged everyone to vote.
Internet and phone voting is now happening. If you need assistance for electronic voiting only, there is a Voter Help Centre at the township hall in Cobden from 11 a.m . to 4 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 24.
Those wishing to cast a paper ballot may do so on Monday, Oct. 27 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the township hall in Cobden or the Westmeath Community Centre (upstairs hall at the arena). There will also be internet and phone voting at these two centres.
For residents of Country Haven Retirement Home and Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home, there will be polls at each of those places for voting.
