'LRT is a hill I will die on. Put that in the headline:' Flamborough candidate

For Rich Gelder, being the lone vocal light rail transit (LRT) supporter on a Waterdown panel was a lonely place to be. But he didn't care.

Gelder is the sole Ward 13 election candidate to "unequivocally" support the planned $1 billion system. He was one of a dozen candidates vying for Ward 12, 13 and 15 seats who participated Tuesday.

Residents wanted to hear about property taxes, which some say are skyrocketing. LRT will add to the city's tax base and ease the burden on Flamborough, Gelder told the dubious audience. It will help you.

Afterward, he said it doesn't matter if that's a popular stance.

"If I'm not supporting LRT, hand me my nomination papers back," he said. "LRT is a hill I will die on. Put that in the headline."

LRT — and the impact it will have on struggling Flamborough taxpayers — dominated the event leading up to the Oct. 22 election. It was held by the Flamborough Review and Flamborough Chamber of Commerce.

John Roberts, Gelder's competitor, said since Hamilton amalgamated in 2000, his taxes have increased 116 per cent.

Metrolinx has said LRT will spur growth from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. That will take the burden off Flamborough taxpayers, Gelder told the audience, and place it squarely on the lower city.

Not everyone bought it.

Annette Webber, a retired teacher, lives on the 10th Concession in Ward 15. She's skeptical of the predicted economic uplift.

Webber said she pays $5,000 per year on a property that's less than one acre.

"I do not understand it," she said. "I live on a road with no sidewalks. We have our own septic system. We have a well. We have a volunteer fire department."

Kevin Gray, Gelder's competitor in Dundas/Flamborough, said LRT will make taxes go "sky high."

Another Ward 13 candidate, John Mykytyshyn, said he agrees Hamilton needs to diversify its tax base. But it should focus on luring major corporations. It doesn't need LRT.

"Rich is a great guy and he's passionate about transit," said Mykytyshyn, a Conservative party strategist and political organizer. But he's "misguided."

"We can have the transit system we need (without LRT)."

Gelder, a high school teacher, wasn't the only candidate at Waterdown District High School who supports LRT. But he was the only one who said so.

Lloyd Ferguson, incumbent Ward 12 councillor, consistently votes in favour. In a recent Cable 14 debate, however, he said his support is a "qualified yes."

"Maybe he doesn't know what he wants at this point," said Miranda Reis, an accountant who's running against him. "I'm making a hard stance. My platform is no LRT for Miranda."

Not everyone in the audience was against LRT. Bob Elliott of Waterdown, an economic development consultant, approached Gelder afterward to tell him to keep it up.

Property taxpayers are suffering because Hamilton has lost much of its industrial tax base, he said. So the weight falls to residential taxpayers. The best way to help that, he said, is to grow the base.

Plus, "as a taxpayer in Flamborough, I am paying for LRT in Ottawa. I am paying for LRT in Toronto. I am paying for LRT in Waterloo. So why shouldn't I be paying for LRT in Hamilton?"

The councillor candidate debate was followed by one with the mayoral candidates. Questions included the red tape involved around starting a business in Flamborough, and whether rural residents are getting value for their tax dollars. But LRT was one that consistently reared its head.

The former Liberal provincial government committed $1 billion to build LRT. In August, the new PC government paused the property acquisition. During the provincial election, PC leader Doug Ford said Hamilton could use the $1 billion for any transit-related project.

Gelder said when he's canvassing, people are "about 60/40" against LRT.

"I've knocked on thousands of doors in Flamborough and Dundas and thought "I'm going to get killed on LRT,'" he said. "I look people in the eye and say I support it, and they say 'I support it too.'

"Then I say 'I thought you were going to slam the door in my face.' Because that's happened too."