WEBSITE: www.4r4w13.ca

EMAIL: redmond@rwforward13.ca

PHONE: 416-817-0830

______________________________________

1. What key issues define your campaign platform?
Two key issues: responsiveness and fiscal responsibility.
On responsiveness, the constant theme I hear going door-to-door is that the incumbent shows up for elections and never seen again. As councilor I would make full use of technology in order to canvass residents before I vote on contentious issues, and to increase channels for people to communicate their views to me.

On fiscal responsibility, the city’s finances are in a mess. In the last five years alone, spending has increased by $1.5 billion. In the last reported fiscal year, “administration” alone increased by 50% — an additional $200 million. The garbage strike last year made it clear how important each councilor’s vote is. The deal with the union narrowly passed: 21 voted for it, and 17 voted against. Bill Saundercook voted in favour of the deal, just as he voted for tax increase after tax increase. I never would have.

2. Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I got involved because I feel the same way that residents in this ward feel: city council is no longer representing what they believe in. Unlike some of my opponents, I am unaffiliated with any political party. I am the only candidate to clearly set out my policy views on my website at www.voteredmond.ca. Also, I believe that the city has to be run more like a business, with a concern about efficiencies and whether we are getting value for money. I am not a career civil servant like the incumbent: I have always been in business. Finally, as I have a family with two young children, both under six years old, I am directly in touch with and affected by city council decisions that affect young families.

3. What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?
Among other things, I am proposing the Zero Percent Pledge. This isn’t a pledge to cut services or to provide tax breaks: it’s a pledge to stop the never ending ballooning city budget. In the last reported fiscal year, city council expenses went up by 19%. Administration by 55%. Planning and development by 50%. In total, $400 million more expenses than the prior year. People who take the Zero Percent Pledge will commit to ensuring that spending at each department does not increase in the next fiscal year. We need to get our fiscal house in order.

4. Please provide details on your personal bio.
I have lived in this ward for seven years and have been a homeowner for six. I am married with two young children. I work in the private sector as an industrial designer at a cutting edge design/build firm. As an industrial designer, I help to design items in a way that are more functional, attractive and economical – exactly what I want to do if elected as city councilor. I enjoy spending time in the community with my friends and family, frequenting local businesses, and attending at local community events.

5. Who do you plan to support for mayor?
I have met Sarah Thompson and Rob Ford and I believe I could work with either of them as mayor. I intend to meet with Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman, and I believe I can work with either of those individuals as well. Each of those four candidates appear to be running on promises of fiscal responsibility, which I support wholeheartedly.