KEN PERRY (2014 election)

I have been on town council for the past seven years, winning in a by-election in 2008.
I have challenged many unpopular decisions and I have supported those that were of value and good for our town. I believe that everyone deserves a fair shake and everyone should be heard.
I have resided in this town for more than 30 years and together with my wife, Laurel, of almost 30 years, we have raised our two sons, Sheldon and Ken Jr.
Sheldon is a jail guard here in town while Ken is a construction iron worker. Sheldon has a son, Hunter.
In the next year and coming years, we will be faced with a shrinking tax base and fewer tax dollars to help pay the bills and make Fort Frances an attractive place to be. We will not sustain on our current path.
The town has been steadily shrinking its workforce through reductions at both the town hall and at Public Works. Most of that was achieved through retirements and restructuring.
It has happened as painlessly as possible. Everyone feels the extra workload as they each try to pull up the slack and perform more.
This process surely will continue in all areas as we find fewer and fewer dollars to support the system.
Cutting necessary services is not an option. We always will need sewer and water, streets and roads, roads plowed, and grass cut. Under-used services either will need to be amalgamated or phased out and hours of service may need to be adjusted.
People and groups may need to pay more—closer to the true cost for services they demand. We may introduce a greater need for volunteering and fundraising.
Tax increases are not my option but all must be considered.
The town already has gone the extra mile to attract new economic development to our community. We offer various incentives to help businesses get started.
There are reduced cost building lots in the industrial park, graduated tax schemes that ease the burden for the first three years to qualifying businesses, and incentives to improving run-down properties.
We also enjoy the cheapest hydro rates in all of Ontario.
We need to adopt a “can do” and “how can we help you” attitude to prospective customers. Like most places, the red tape is too thick.
The tools are in place—we simply need to smile more. We need investors with dollars. Partnerships are being investigated.
I look forward to winning the upcoming election so I can continue to do my best for this town and you, the citizens.
Vote for Ken Perry.