Richard Whitehead says goals are achievable this term
By MARK PAVILONS

Richard Whitehead believes his campaign goals are achievable in council's new four-year term. He vows to be fiscally responsible and get the shovel in the ground where needed.

Whitehead defeated incumbent Nancy Stewart in the closest race of the election, winning by only 56 votes. Whitehead said his team canvassed continuously for 72 days with no break. He knew the race would be a tough one and he organized accordingly, starting early and hitting the doors. There was a great reception everywhere and many recognized him from his previous service on council (he served for a total of 17 years).

This was the first campaign his wife Ruthe was able to spent full-time on and she found the process fascinating and consuming. Whitehead for that short time, your whole life is directed to that scope.

The biggest issue at the doors was taxation and he took the time to listen while at the doors.

He vowed to reduce the tax rate by the end of the term and with council and staff support, there's no reason it can't be achieved.

One of the keys to lessening the residential burden is to increase Caledon's commercial and industrial assessment. The Town has to create more serviced land in Bolton to attract new firms. Also, the west side of Coleraine has to be zoned and serviced. Whitehead noted there is roughly 800 acres of land available for use.

The last council, he noted, didn't create any land inventory during the last term. As the serviced lands fill, we will see the benefits and impacts during this coming term.

The momentum is there, he observed, and this council has to keep it up.

His second priority is to look at the budget process and parameters used. Caledon always produces surpluses and it shouldn't because that means it's overtaxing the residents. Whitehead said they need to spend the time, along with staff, to analyze the budget process. A rate stabilization fund, created in the 1990s, has been in place to offset budget deficits, so the

protection is already there. There has been no deficit since.

He doesn't see much in the way of opposition at council.

Whitehead said he also welcomes any private funding and partnerships in the areas of recreation and transit.

He also doesn't see much conflict at regional council, noting Caledon and Mississauga have traditionally voted together on major issues. As well, any demands Caledon makes are insignificant in the big picture. The new crop of regional councillors don't seem confrontational, either.

Our councillors do need to be more aggressive in getting the region to spend more on Caledon's infrastructure this term. There is plenty of regional work that needs to be done locally.

He pointed to the villages of Mono Road, Caledon East, Mono Mills and Palgrave as being impacted by the traffic carried on regional roads. More needs to be spent on beautification and creating community identifications and they need to engage the region more in these areas. Many of these "little things" will make a big difference in these communities.

While the new seniors' project in Caledon East is under way, Whitehead said it's just the start. The region needs to look for its next site, to meet the future needs.

None of these are overly expensive, so Whitehead hopes to get some accomplished.

It seems the Bolton bypass is always an election

issue and this year was no different. While it's the biggest single project in Caledon, Whitehead said it needs to get built. The longer we wait, the more costly it will ultimately become. In order to complete it, Whitehead said they may have to look at taking on a bit of debt. They have money earmarked for the project, and Caledon has commitments from Peel and Brampton for some of the work. We have to maximize Peel's contributions, he said, so taxpayers will pay very little in the end for this new highway.

Overall, Whitehead expects the new council will get along and get things done, both locally and at the regional level.