Who is running for mayor in Summerside

After one term, mayor Bill Martin has chosen to not re-offer in the upcoming election which means voters in Summerside will be casting their ballots for someone else to lead the city from 2018 on.

Three candidates are registered with Elections P.E.I. to be on the ballot come Nov. 5.

And leading up to the election, CBC asked the three candidates to fill out a questionnaire on major issues facing Summerside now and in the future. 

Here they are and here is what they had to say.

Basil Stewart

What are you going to do to keep young people living and working in Summerside?

Our young people/youth are our most valuable asset. They are our future community leaders‎, our future business people and future great employees. When students graduate from high school, Holland College and UPEI, we have to do everything possible to have suitable steady employment so they will begin their career here in Summerside. If I am elected as mayor, I will work to attract more business to Summerside in order to have more employment for our young people so they will stay in our city. 

The city has been a leader in clean energy, are you going to continue doing that? How?

I am a strong believer in clean/green energy. When I was mayor a few years ago, we worked with the federal ‎and provincial governments to construct a wind farm which provides a a large percentage of electricity for our city. We also installed a number of electrical car chargers and have electric cars. I also agree with expanding our solar energy system. This is the way of the future. 

What could be done to create more affordable housing in Summerside?

There is presently ‎a great opportunity to create more affordable housing. The affordable housing must also be accessible with all new construction. The new affordable housing should be made available to seniors as well as people on lower incomes. The dollars presently available from the federal and provincial governments will help to solve the shortage of housing in our city. I will work to ensure this happens in Summerside.

How are you going to encourage growth and development of business in the downtown/waterfront area?

Growth and development are very important to all areas of our city ‎including up town as well. Any town or city in our country that has a strong and thriving downtown has a strong economy. I will work to ensure that Summerside has a strong down-town and economy. I would like to see more people living in our down town, to enjoy our waterfront, as well to improve the economy for our downtown businesses. This would also have to improve/add to our parking which I will support. 

What would you like to see done next to further develop the Slemon Park area?

Slemon Park is a great ‎asset for our City of Summerside. There are many good paying jobs presently located there and there is tremendous potential for much more growth. The aerospace industry is one of our main industries now at Slemon Park and P.E.I. as well. In todays small world we are ideally located to expand many businesses at Slemon Park. There is also great potential for growth at the Atlantic Police Academy. 

Brent Gallant

CBC has reached out to Brent Gallant and will update when he responds.

Nancy Beth Guptill

What are you going to do to keep young people living and working in Summerside?

We must involve young people in creating a new direction and vision for Summerside. We must listen, learn and understand their ideas so we create an attractive place that they will choose to live, work and raise their families. Growing our job base, investing in urban renewal, and committing to making Summerside a safe, diverse and inclusive community with a quality of life we are all deservant of.

The city has been a leader in clean energy, are you going to continue doing that? How?

We're recognized as an international leader in clean energy with 46 per cent of our energy needs being met by green energy sources. Our strategic investments in wind farming, smart grid and solar energy storage projects helps protect our environment while helping residents and businesses reduce their energy costs.

There will be continued investment in these technologies and strengthening partnerships.

What could be done to create more affordable housing in Summerside?

A healthy housing supply is fundamental to the economic and social well-being of Summerside. Affordable housing is a concern, as is the need for a comprehensive housing strategy that includes affordable housing, senior housing and urban renewal in our downtown core.

The city must collaborate with real estate and property developers, consult the public, and partner with our government partners.

How are you going to encourage growth and development of business in the downtown/waterfront area?

The downtown/waterfront is the heartbeat of our city. For it to thrive we must invest in drawing people to the core.

The area will benefit from increased residential populations. Housing projects will stimulate urban renewal as will investments in streetscape improvements, managing parking and a coordinated business retention and attraction strategy as part of an overall urban renewal strategy.  

What would you like to see done next to further develop the Slemon Park area?

To chart a future direction that mutually benefits the city and the corporation, we should continue supporting the development of Slemon Park's aerospace and other high-tech industries, because most jobs within these industries come with higher-paying salaries.

More jobs with higher incomes provide more choice and opportunity for residents while attracting others to come home or to relocate here.

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