Below is an email oneRothesay.com received from a Candidate for Rothesay Council. Mike Butler makes some thoughtful points.
oneRothesay.com will be starting our look at candidates this week. We’ll be looking more closely at Mr. Butler as well as other candidates for council. (Thanks for the pictures Mike):
To: editor@onerothesay.com
Comment from Michael Butler
Michael Butler Candidate for Rothesay Council
Hello Editor,
I have been following your website posts wanted to make a few comments on some issues candidates in this election face. As you probably are aware, I am a candidate for Rothesay council.
I’ve been following several candidates’ websites and looking at some literature that has either arrived at my house or has been given to me. Reviewing their promises and then going door to door has been a revealing exercise for me. Apart from getting me completely outside my comfort zone, the comments I’ve noted are interesting. Some of these comments I have posted on my web site michaelbutler4rothesay.com.
I’ve been struck so far by how basic some of the asks have been and I am scratching my head trying to figure out why meeting some of these requirements would be so difficult. Surely basic infrastructure needs should be a priority.
Some of the comments also speak to the exclusion and isolation some of our taxpayers feel. I’ve had several people indicate that they’re tired of their tax dollars leaving their neighborhood to be spent elsewhere in town.
Ive had several ask why their road can’t get paved even though it hasn’t been paved since amalgamation. Many of these roads have chip seal that is now well beyond serviceable. Maybe if the town freed up the gas tax money instead of setting it aside to be used for discretionary infrastructure, people might feel more listened to.
I’ve also been disappointed by the level of resignation I sense in some. Typically a shrug of the shoulders followed by a comment like one resident said today, “It will never change”.
I hope that all candidates are hearing similar messages and after May 9 will be committed to making a change. Regardless of who gets elected on May 9, if we see a change in town hall and a shakeup of “the old boys club” (as one resident called it), I’ll consider the election a success.
Michael Butler