EloraFergusToday asked candidates in the upcoming municipal election to tell us a little bit about themselves and their platform.
Name: Russel Hurst
Occupation: Executive director of the Ontario Agri Business Association a provincial trade association based in Guelph that represents the interests of terminal/country grain elevators, feed mills and crop input facilities that operate throughout Ontario. Additionally, I am still actively involved in my family’s beef and cash crop farming operations located in Bruce County.
How long have you lived in Puslinch? My wife and our two primary school-aged children have lived in Puslinch Township for the last five years. Prior to that we lived in the south end of Guelph for 12 years. Throughout the past 17 years as a family we have been active in the Puslinch Township community through coaching minor soccer, playing youth baseball, attending Whistle Stop Co-op Pre-School, as well as attending a number of other events throughout the year.
Why are you running in this election? I am running for township council because I feel that I can contribute positively to the community that my wife and I have chosen to raise our family in. There are many positives to new voices and perspectives to any organization, municipal council is no different. I feel that with both my personal and professional experiences, open communication style, willingness to listen to feedback and collaborative nature, the needs of Puslinch residents will be well served in both the near term and into the future if chosen as one of the four council members in the October election.
What qualifies you to represent Puslinch? I believe that through both my personal and professional transferable work experience, open communication style and commitment to fully understanding an issue before judgment is made that residents should feel comfortable and confident with me representing their collective interests on Council.
Why should people vote for you? Residents of Puslinch Township should vote for me this October if they would like a family oriented individual who will proactively and professionally seek a wide range of perspectives and feedback from residents on township issues that impact their lives, who comes into the role with a thorough understanding of both business and government financial planning and decision making processes, is a strong supporter of recreational facility investments based on community needs, supports agricultural and business growth alongside environmental responsibility and who has a strong commitment to being a collaborator with other township councillors, the mayor and township staff.
What do you see as the main issues facing residents of Puslinch on a broader scale? I feel that there isn’t one main issue facing the residents of Puslinch Township and ultimately Council. There are several broad issues that the next council will face that include keeping tax rates reasonable and in-line with other similar communities in the region, increasing revenues from non-residential sources, navigating environmental issues that will have significant impacts on township infrastructure, continued investments in updating or newly commissioning sports and recreational facilities within the community and to prioritize maintaining and updating the township’s roads and critical infrastructure.
What is the most important thing you want to see changed in Puslinch? I do not see one specific item I would like changed. I feel that the outgoing municipal council served the residents of Puslinch well. I am running for council to bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, transfer my business acumen to council decision making processes and financial oversight, as well as to share my thoughts as a family oriented individual with young children who lives in the community and will dedicate the time needed to the role.
Overall, I want to see continued investments in the upkeep of our parks and sports facilities, the public be given amply opportunities to share feedback on municipal priorities, the wide range of municipal services be reviewed on a consistent basis to address opportunities for improvement and efficiency, the Morriston bypass project to move forward and strive for tax transparency and fairness at both the municipal and regional levels, so that Puslinch residents feel they are getting the best value for their hard earned money.
What should be done to address ongoing issues with the aggregate industry? The reality is that the aggregate sector within Puslinch Township is significant and has been for decades. I feel that there needs to be open and transparent communication with aggregate producers who operate in Puslinch Township. Township staff need to be well resourced to make informed assessments and recommendations. Businesses need to operate with predictability and integrity, fulfill their agreed upon environmental commitments on time, equitably contribute tax revenue for the infrastructure utilized, and environmental protections within the Township should meet or exceed established provincial benchmarks with a focus on the future environmental welfare of the region.
As an individual who grew up on and is still involved with my family’s farm operation north of Guelph, and has worked my entire career within the agricultural sector I have a high degree of appreciation that businesses need to operate profitability, but they also have larger community, environmental and social obligations to take into consideration that cannot be overlooked.
How do we make Puslinch an even better place to live? Puslinch is a great place to live and raise a family. In the future for Puslinch to be an even better place to live and raise a family we need to ensure that we have a strong and focused 5-year strategic plan and consistent budgets for the community that ensures that fire and rescue, recreational, municipal services and infrastructure investments are right sized for the community we call home.
If elected, my priorities for the next Council will include: ensuring open communication and feedback opportunities for residents are prioritized prior to significant decisions are made, tax fairness and benchmarking to ensuring that residents feel they get good value for their tax dollars, as compared to similar rural communities, advocating for continued investments in rural digital connectivity, navigating Guelph’s growth south and ensure that the needs of Puslinch residents are well articulated and advocated for at the regional level, ensure that our environmental resources are carefully managed for future generations and a focus on the need to continue strategic investments in our recreational facilities, targeted industrial land development, and road infrastructure.
Any link to an election website or social media account: I’m sure you have some ideas as well and I would like to hear from you. Send your thoughts to [email protected] or visit my web site www.russelhurst.com
