ROSS DONALDSON

After being asked by several people and much consideration, I entered the race for the position of reeve in the Township of La Vallee.
My wife, Denise, and I both have lived here all of our lives. Community is very important to us and it would be an honour for me to be elected to serve another term as head of council.
I have served one term as councillor and one term as reeve on our council. During my term as reeve, I served four years as chairman for the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board and three years as vice-president of the Rainy River District Municipal Association.
I had strong working relationships with other municipal councillors, as well as many provincial politicians and their staff. I believe these contacts were beneficial to our municipality and I see it as something that is lacking in our current council.
I let my name stand for reeve because I believe others running have shown themselves incapable of the kind of leadership our community needs. I believe our current council made a significant number of ill-advised decisions which will have serious consequences.
Two of that council are vying for the reeve position and should not be allowed the chance to do further damage. My other opponent does not have the experience that I have.
Four years ago, our municipality was in excellent shape. In the last term, it has deteriorated badly and I believe I am best-suited of the four candidates to lead us through the difficulties that lie ahead.
I have not gone into the specific actions I would take as reeve, but I welcome the opportunity to discuss them with anyone who would like to ask me about them. I am particularly interested in talking to anyone who has decided to vote for someone else or not vote at all.
Perhaps a short conversation will change that person’s opinion.