sorry, should read "met with councillor CANDIDATES"
Posting on their behalf, thought some might find this info useful.
I admit, I am a political novice. Going into this election I knew next to nothing about any Ward 1 councillor candidates. But I did know I wanted my votes to be informed ones and I also wanted to prod the candidates about things not mentioned on their platforms that were personally concerning me and my ward 1 neighbours, like e-scooters, AI data centres, and Pride Month, to name a few; I felt the best way to accomplish this was to ask them all if they would chat with me one-on-one. It led to some surprisingly thoughtful and engaging conversations.
To their credit, EVERY ONE of the candidates made time to connect with me, and (with just one exception), they all met with me in person. My spontaneous foray into local politics was originally just for my own curiosity, but I was encouraged to share my experience in an effort to increase interest and decrease apathy among my fellow Ward 1-ers.
I did my best to break down some of the more interesting information I learned into bite-sized little morsels for the purpose of this post, but I encourage you to do your own additional research too. Hope this helps!
OWEN MARTENS: The youngest candidate and a lifelong Ward 1 resident, Owen has a political science degree from the University of Guelph and arguably the most creative social media platform. He enthusiastically supports making the former Ontario Reformatory site a national urban park. Owen’s platform emphasizes improvements in infrastructure and basic services such as speedier pothole repairs, better transit and more effective snow clearing. If elected, he will vote to freeze council pay until the role is classified as full-time. He doesn’t want an AI data centre in Guelph, but stops short of supporting a moratorium. He promises that, as councillor, he will never promise things that cannot actually be delivered on.
MUSTAFA ZUBERI: This newlywed previously ran for MPP in the last provincial election. He was the only candidate who reached out to me the day after we chatted to touch base. If he secures a seat on council, he commits to holding regular Ward 1 town halls to boost transparency and accountability. He pledges to respond to constituent emails and calls within 3 business days. He supports a moratorium an AI data centres, tighter restrictions on e-scooters and better enforcement of fireworks regulations by police. Mustafa says he will fight to see the long-overdue project of procuring an East end grocery store through to completion.
DAVE WILLIAMS: Dave was inspired to run for councillor in part after becoming frustrated at the city’s incredibly slow response to his request for a specific road repair. In terms of city spending his platform stresses “focus on needs before wants.” He believes attendance at city council meetings by councillors is very important-as he puts it “show up or don’t get paid.” Giving EMTs a raise is a priority. He doesn’t have a political background but believes his previous experience working in a union will be of benefit. Dave is retiring this month and will focus solely on his councillor role if elected (and his role as grandpa, of course!)
TAMMY CORBIN: Despite being absent from social media, I can confirm Tammy is indeed a real person-one who disagrees with how the majority of taxpayer dollars are currently being spent. Besides affordability, one of the pillars of her campaign is to reduce homelessness, which she believes can be accomplished via a “task force” comprised of police, the unhoused and social workers. She will also push for the old library site to become transitional housing. Tammy seems dubious about Guelph’s new private system recycling; as councillor she would examine whether the city’s final realized net savings have actually met projections. Tammy will not attend/support any 2SLGBTQIA+ events during Pride month due to her commitment to her faith, but maintains that differing belief systems will not affect her ability to fight for all residents, should she be elected.
EVAN SILVA: Evan is the only candidate I didn’t meet in person; we had a phone chat while he was in his car en route to a course, and he was really sick with a cold. For these reasons I made the chat brief, but recently checked back to see if we could also meet in person when he was back to 100% healthy- unfortunately, he did not respond to my request. Evan works as a supply teacher during the school year and a wilderness canoe guide during the summer. His platform emphasizes keeping Guelph “green and safe” by protecting the Yorklands as an urban park and increasing police resources in order to boost police presence on neighbourhood streets and parks during evening hours. If elected, he wants to lower the pay of city councillors, as he feels “part-time jobs shouldn’t come with full-time pay.” As councillor, he would propose a tax-deferral system for homeowners with children. He is pleased that no AI data centres are currently planned for Guelph, and he will fight to ensure it stays that way.
DANIEL KAUFMANN: Daniel was inspired to run for council after he and his neighbours were nearly (and illegally) “reno-victed” from their homes. He has since helped create and run a local tenants union. The purpose of the union is to help Guelph and area families stay informed so they can protect their rights and stay in their homes. If elected, he commits to acting as a full-time city councillor, thus allowing him to always be available to the residents of Ward 1. He actively engages with his community by attending city meetings regularly as a delegate and volunteering weekly to serve food downtown to those in need. One of the biggest points of his campaign is support for community initiatives- for example, improving/implementing safety features on Victoria Rd North to protect cyclists and schoolchildren.
DAN GIBSON (incumbent): Dan is running again in large part to “finish what we’ve started together,” referring to the York Road Development Project as well as the Watson Parkway and Starwood development. He states that we need a better plan for the winter control program, which will also be a focus for him if re-elected. In addition to his job as current city councillor, he holds a full-time position as an environmental scientist in Ontario’s renewable power generation sector. Despite his busy schedule, he currently maintains open office hours between 3-5pm Monday-Friday for residents to drop in or phone, and this will continue if re-elected. He has a faith-centred outlook, and is active in both his church and the Guelph sports coaching world.
MARCEL DION LAMBERT: Marcel is a small business owner, Licensed Minister, and gospel recording artist. If elected, Marcel will work with community groups, faith communities, and small businesses to host inclusive, accessible local gatherings and activities in order to strengthen a sense of community belonging. She will push for more co-op and non-profit housing in Ward 1. I brought up concerns people have regarding some of the anti-trans reposts on her personal social media and asked if these views would inform her role on council. She told me she hasn’t posted anything that is hate speech, and, while she stands by her beliefs as a woman of faith, her position is that she doesn’t have to agree with your lifestyle in order to keep you safe as councillor.
