Letter: Be skeptical with election promises

This will be the most exciting municipal election Sudbury has witnessed in years.

With 10 candidates running for mayor and 60 running for positions as councillor, we have an excellent calibre of citizens from every section of the city running Oct. 27.

The candidates are out on the hustings with platforms, promising everything from freezing our taxes to no tipping fees at our landfill sites to lowering our hydro rates and selling off Pioneer Manor.

There are also promises to create jobs, attract more industry to the city, lower the cost of parking at Health Science North and develop the Ring of Fire.

While one candidate wants to sell $800 million of municipal bonds, another candidate says it’s not fair to have taxpayers on the hook over a 40-year time span.

Who are we to believe when we put our X on the ballot on Oct. 27?

Elections promises bring me back to many years ago, when Jim Jerome promised to remove the railway tracks at the Elm Street crossing. Well, folks, they are still there. Don’t be naive. Be skeptical.

Before casting our vote there are several priorities that we should consider.

(a) Electing more women on council. There are several excellent and experienced women on the ballot for city council.

(b) The ward system should be reexamined. Our area, Ward 4 in the west end, is connected to Azilda, which means that our councillor lives 10 miles away. The South End ward is also part of Coniston and Wanipitei. Councillors should reside in the neighbourhood and be familiar with situations in the immediate area.

(c) In the next four years, we must focus exclusively on transparency and accountability and avoid another bus scandal, resulting in the loss of $500,000 in taxpayers’ money. Citizens demand accountability, honesty and transparency from our elected councillors. Sudburians deserve no less.

Tony Sottile
Sudbury