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Kingsville has experienced much change over the past two decades, and now the town’s voters must choose a new mayor for the first time in nearly 20 years to oversee the municipality’s next steps in managing rapid growth.
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Longtime mayor Nelson Santos resigned earlier this summer to take a new job elsewhere in Ontario, resulting in a three-way battle between Laura Lucier, Tamara Stomp and Dennis Rogers for the mayor’s chair in the Oct. 24 election.
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“We all realize how important the next four years are going to be for the town,” Rogers said.
“The town has changed drastically. We need to make some proactive decisions to navigate the next four years and beyond.”
The three generally identify the same issues as priorities and have solutions that often overlap each other, leaving voters to have to grade the candidates in other areas in their search for daylight between them.
It’s resulted in things like the length of residential status in Kingsville, management style and personality, who has the most time to commit to the job and the need for political experience or business experience taking on greater significance.
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Lucier has served on Kingsville council since 2018 and has spent her career in managerial roles in health, education and social services.
Stomp has served as a town councillor from 2003-2010 and then as deputy mayor from 2010 to 2014 before taking a break from politics. She has been a lawyer for 41 years specializing in conflict resolution.
Rogers, who has served in hospitality sector company management, and opened his business Green Heart in 2013 in Kingsville, is making his first run for public office.
All three have held senior positions in various community organizations and are married with children.
“The challenge we have is the small-town feel is what has drawn people to Kingsville, but people are feeling it seems the town is getting too big,” Lucier said.
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“It’s a double-edged sword. We have to protect the historic core, support small business and keep the charm that attracted people to the town.”
The issue topping the list for voters is evidenced by the daily slow crawl of traffic on Main Street through the town’s historic core.
With new condos, apartments and retail filling in the vacant lots along the town’s main artery, and more development taking place on secondary arteries, the urban planning required to handle the increased traffic flow, infrastructure needs, parks, recreation and cultural facilities is a dominant theme at the door with voters.
The rapid rise of the greenhouse industry presents other challenges in the area of supplying water, sewage capacity and power.
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“Transportation downtown, having more outlet routes, I think is something that will come to fruition in the coming term,” said Stomp, who said she’s been immersed in studying urban planning for the past 20 years.
“Affordable and obtainable housing is another priority. We need residences for young people starting out, but also for retirees looking to downsize.
“We have an opportunity to set the path for smart growth. We want to maintain Kingsville as a walkable community.”
Lucier, however, noted the downtown core isn’t the only focus for development residents are expressing concern over.
“Access to the waterfront is a one of the residents’ main complaints,” Lucier said. “It’s called Kingsville-on-the-Lake, but the public can’t really access it easily.”
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Park Street has long been designated as a second commercial/residential zone, but it remains largely untapped despite its access to some of the town’s public waterfront.
Stomp added the town’s harbour needs to be part of those waterfront discussions.
“The harbour was downloaded by the province to the town and port users and that lease runs out in 2049,” Stomp said. “What happens to it in the future?”
Aside from its lakeside urban core, Kingsville is a sprawling municipality that stretches to Cottam, Ruthven and Cedar Beach. The mix of urban centres with vast areas of rural farm country requires a balancing of interests.
“We need a strong, detailed and time sensitive blueprint for the next 20-25 years,” Rogers said.
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“We have a land study coming next year and I think the data from that should drive our decisions. We need to know what we have in terms of residential, industrial and agricultural lands and adjust to meet demands.”
All three candidates also support Kingsville council’s rejection of the Strong Mayors’ Building Homes Act.
However, agreeing on the town’s priorities is where the trio’s shared vision of the future ends.
Lucier feels she brings continuity and experience from a council that has achieved plenty of positives in the past term.
“As mayor, you’re the voice of the town, you don’t get to express personal opinions,” Lucier said.
“I’m well-suited to that type of role. I’ve shown I can work positively with council to continue building on the good things put in place.”
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Stomp has a lengthy resume in government at both the municipal and county levels. She feels her edge in experience will be needed for the town to maximize its opportunities.
“I have experience the other candidates don’t have,” Stomp said.
“I have the contacts they don’t have. This town needs a strong hand at the helm.
“I’m not afraid to make decisions that are best for community.”
Rogers feels his business background differentiates him from his opponents. He’s a big believer in using data in decision-making and to show to voters what they’ll get for their taxes.
“I think my leadership and the skill set I’ve developed in business would serve the community as mayor,” Rogers said.
“The mayor’s job isn’t to do it all. It’s to lead and help people to do things.
“To elevate people, to build a team is what achieves results. That’s my narrative.”
Voters in fast-growing Kingsville must choose new mayor - Windsor Star
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