Photo from Doug Brunton's Mayoral Facebook page
With the Norfolk County mayoral debate coming up on Tuesday, October 13th, we’ve reached out to each of the candidates to hear more about their background, why they decided to run, and the issues they would like to address if elected.
Over the coming days, we’ll be featuring the candidates who have joined us in the studio, giving each an opportunity to speak about their campaign and their vision for Norfolk County.
Doug Brunton says he decided to run for mayor because he believes changes are needed in how Norfolk County manages its finances and infrastructure.
Brunton has served as a Norfolk County councillor for eight years, over two seperate terms, and has more than 30 years of experience working in municipal public works.
He says that background has given him ideas about how tackle what he considers to be one of the biggest issues in the county.
He also points to the rising cost of materials and fuel, including oil products used in asphalt and road work, as a significant pressure on municipal budgets.
Brunton says those costs make it even more important to carefully review projects and spending.
Garbage collection is another issue Brunton discussed, drawing on more than three decades of experience in waste management and his former role as vice-president of the Ontario Waste Management Association.
Brunton says he understands residents’ frustration with Norfolk’s current garbage and composting changes, but believes the county needs to work through the transition.
He says composting can remove more material from the waste stream than recycling alone and argues that municipalities have been left carrying much of the responsibility for waste programs.
He also wants to address garbage issues in Downtown Simcoe and recently saw a different approach while travelling in Europe that could be a good fit.
Water and wastewater are another major concern for Brunton.
He says Norfolk needs to carefully consider the cost of its proposed inter-urban water system, which he puts at up to $550 million.
Brunton argues that Norfolk should continue investigating and protecting its local groundwater sources .
Brunton also says development needs to be carefully considered around groundwater sources, pointing to his opposition to a proposed development on West Street in Simcoe as an example.
He says there are many pressures facing Norfolk County, but believes his background in public works and infrastructure gives him a perspective that could help the municipality control costs while addressing major infrastructure and service challenges.
