Windsor residents decide significance of election

By Millar Hill

Windsor residents are deciding what issues are significant to them as they prepare to vote in the upcoming municipal election.

A total of 54 candidates are running for ward councillor positions this year. Some residents have said they are hoping to see candidates focus on improving the transit system and local businesses.

According to 93.9 The River’s host Dan MacDonald, focusing on neighbourhoods is his biggest concern in this election. He said he believes local businesses need support and people need to become active in their communities in order to have a thriving city.

“I vote for people who have benefited the community. I don’t vote for people I think will benefit us, I vote for those I know will benefit us,” he said. “I vote for those who have made progress. Their track records show they’re active and working to make it a better place.”

Program coordinator at The AIDS Committee of Windsor, Colm Holmes, said upcoming councilors could be beneficial to local neighbourhoods by becoming active in them. MacDonald wants to see more community involvement like street and park clean-ups. Activities, he said, that bring people together and benefit the city.

“We need to take pride in what we have and take care of it,” said MacDonald. “We want young people to stay here and we want it to be a retirement destination.”

The city’s transportation system is also a major concern. University of Windsor student Kyle Landry rides the bus every day to school. He said tax money should be put towards revamping the city’s transit system.

“I work with individuals that rely on Windsor transit. This is an issues I care to see improved,” said Holmes. “Public transportation is vital to our city and people that use it.”

The election is right around the corner, advance voting stations will be available starting Oct.11, and election day is Oct.25.