On August 14, I filed my nomination to run for Stratford City Council. Livable. Affordable. Accountable.

Livable. Affordable. Accountable. Here are the five things I'll push on at the Council table:

Three budgets in a row have gone up, and one of them only balanced because the council pulled money out of reserves.

Kids grow up in Stratford and then can't afford to live here.

The winter warming centre matters. People need somewhere to go. But it's a bridge, not a destination.

We have a world-class season and a very quiet six months. The Festival matters, and it isn't the whole economy.

Roads and sidewalks in real repair, transit that actually improves service, and an honest look at the Erie Street parking pilot. Discretionary projects wait for a value-for-money review.

Stratford has big projects on the table and a habit of letting them drift.

You shouldn't have to file a request to find out what council decided, or why.

$150,000 went to Lights on Stratford and $150,000 to attainable housing from 2025 accommodation tax dollars. The next step is clear, published targets for that spending.