Eight candidates running for the two Ward 5 seats have shared their positions on a range of local issues, including downtown parking, housing, taxes and municipal services.
Much like the Mayoral debate, an interesting portion of the evening during a rapid-fire question-and-answer session.
Bob Townsend, Kevin Allen, Quentin Dixon, Dennis Travale, Alan Duthie, Mike Storoschuk, Peter Black and Ryan Boyko were asked to respond to a series of questions, often with just one word or a short sentence.
Candidates were also given one minute at the end to clarify or expand on one of their answers.
Downtown Simcoe and local priorities
When asked to identify their top priority for Ward 5, the candidates offered a range of answers.
For the rapid-fire questions, the candidates answered in the order previously mentioned – Townsend, Allen, Dixon, Travale, Duthie, Storoschuk, Black, and Boyko.
Candidates were also asked whether bylaw enforcement should pay closer attention to the two-hour parking limit in Simcoe’s downtown core.
Allen, Dixon, Travale, Duthie and Storoschuk supported increased attention to the limit. Boyko also supported enforcement, while suggesting additional considerations.
Black offered a qualified yes-and-no response, and Townsend opposed it.
On the question of improving downtown without spending money, Allen suggested removing unauthorized signs and billboards, while Dixon said the Horticultural Society should be allowed to help make downtown beautiful again.
Travale called for a cleanup, and Duthie suggested universal signage bylaws.
Boyko pointed to Simcoe Strong, while Black suggested a lobby group.
Storoschuk offered the word “opportunity,” and Townsend answered “change.”
Taxes, tourism and vacant properties
The candidates also shared what they would recommend to visitors.
Answers included Norfolk County’s beaches, agriculture, local produce, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, Simcoe’s Christmas Panorama, local restaurants and downtown Simcoe businesses.
Taxes and municipal spending featured prominently in the discussion.
Asked to share one hard truth voters need to hear, several candidates warned that costs or taxes are unlikely to decline.
Here is Townsend, Allen, Travale and Storoschuk.
Dixon, Duthie, Black, and Boyko had other hard truths outside of finances.
The Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) was another point of disagreement.
Townsend, Allen, Travale, Duthie and Storoschuk said they would support continuing the tax.
Dixon and Black opposed continuing it, while Boyko said he would not support it in its current form.
During his one minute for clarificaton at the end of the rapid-fire question period, Duthie defended the MAT, explaining that tourism creates costs for local taxpayers through services such as garbage collection, sidewalks, water and public washrooms.
He said the four per cent tax on accommodations could help recover some of those costs, which he suggested could reach upwards of one million dollars annually.
Boyko agreed with Duthie’s argument about tourism costs but said Norfolk County needs more hotel rooms and other accommodation options before focusing on the tax.
He described an experience filming a movie in Port Ryerse in 2020, when his crew could not secure 30 rooms for 30 days and instead stayed in Brantford.
He argued that Norfolk County missed out on the associated spending on hotels, food and other purchases.
The candidates were also asked whether they would support a higher tax on vacant commercial properties and storefronts.
Townsend, Allen, Dixon, Travale and Storoschuk supported the idea, with Boyko suggesting the tax should be tripled.
Duthie opposed it, saying he couldn’t support it in today’s climate. Black stated pecuniary interest.
Storoschuk expanded on his position during his one minute response period, saying a vacancy tax should be considered given the number of underdeveloped and unused spaces in downtown Simcoe.
He suggested the municipality could explore ways to recover money from owners who are not making use of their properties.
Ride Norfolk and municipal services
Candidates were asked which municipal program or service they would cut if given the opportunity.
Townsend named Ride Norfolk, while Allen identified security at the library.
Dixon suggested over-policing, Travale pointed to some social and recreational services, and Duthie said some social services should be the province’s responsibility.
Storoschuk suggested there could be opportunities to reduce services related to the support provided to individuals and the procedures surrounding that support.
Black identified special-interest-group funding, while Boyko named the Municipal Accommodation Tax.
Ride Norfolk also prompted a separate question about whether the service should be supported or cut.
Allen, Dixon, Travale, Duthie and Storoschuk supported it, with Storoschuk saying he would expand the service.
Black said “maybe,” while Boyko answered “fix.”
Townsend reiterated his position that it should be cut.
The candidates were also asked whether people from outside Norfolk County should pay higher fees to use local recreational facilities.
Six candidates supported higher fees for non-residents, while Black and Boyko opposed the idea.
Housing, development and heritage
The candidates also faced questions about housing and development.
Asked whether they supported higher-density or multifamily housing in established low-density neighbourhoods, Dixon and Black said no.
The other six candidates supported it, despite the question acknowledging that the province has some jurisdiction over the issue.
On data centres, Townsend and Travale supported a moratorium in Norfolk County, while the other six candidates opposed one.
Heritage designations produced a more divided response when candidates were asked whether homeowners should be able to remove heritage designations from existing properties.
Townsend, Allen and Dixon supported the idea, while Travale, Duthie and Boyko opposed it.
Storoschuk said decisions should be considered on a case-by-case basis, and Black said funding was needed.
Seven of the candidates did not support the idea of installing security guards at the Simcoe library, with Boyko being the lone supporter.
Travale used his opportunity to expand on an answer to explain his opposition to immediately installing security guards.
Drawing on his career in security, he said other options, including improving site security and monitoring, should be considered before committing to the cost of guards.
Leadership and strong mayor powers
The rapid-fire session also explored leadership styles and the use of provincial strong mayor powers.
Candidates described their leadership styles using words such as collaborative, bold, informative, attentive, team player and creative.
When asked about their biggest leadership weakness, several acknowledged a tendency to take on too much themselves or to be too independent.
Other answers included delegation, public speaking, saying “um” and spending too much time planning.
They were then asked what their initial reaction would be if the mayor used strong mayor powers for the first time.
Candidates were also asked whether they had ever attended a Pride event. Allen and Storoschuk said no, while the other six candidates said yes.
The session concluded with candidates using their additional minute to explain one of their answers.
Black emphasized the importance of treating municipal staff with respect and working collaboratively rather than taking an authoritarian approach.
Townsend also returned to his collaborative leadership style, saying consensus-building can help create a shared sense of ownership among decision-makers and municipal employees.
Krissi Wiseman and Princess Peace were unable to attend the debate.
Both candidates did use their social media pages to respond anticipated questions for the evening.
