Letter: Change certain with new mayor and council

Editor’s note: Jeff Huska was a mayoral candidate in Greater Sudbury’s recent municipal elections, placing fifth.

It’s been just over a month since the election. The new mayor and councillors have been sworn in, and the citizens of the city are looking for positive change in 2015.

The events of the upcoming year are going to be watched closely by critics and supporters alike. As a newcomer to the political scene, I am overwhelmed and thankful for the support people provided during the election and those who continue to express their appreciation of my bid for the mayor’s office.

The residents of the City of Greater Sudbury have drawn a line in the sand through their votes and now, it’s time to move forward.

If I were a betting man, it would be safe to say that council, as soon as possible, will reappoint Ontario Ombudsman André Marin as the closed-meetings investigator.

Following that, they’ll re-engage the auditor general’s position formerly occupied by our present mayor. These were two of the most important issues on the road to transparency and openness that galvanized the community.

The Healthy Community Initiative Funds are believed by many to be disbursed without proper guidance and/or policy. They believe these funds should be abolished.

In my campaign for mayor, I did get to see where much of the HCI Funds were being directed, and I can tell you it was positive.

Admittedly, there is a lot of good that happens because of these dollars being allocated in the community. I urge the new council to please learn as much as possible about the HCI Funds and like any corporation, develop policies and guidelines as you move forward to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Finally, I wish Mayor Bigger and the entire council all the best moving forward.
Merry Christmas to everyone and have a safe and bright New Year.

Jeff Huska
Sudbury