(Town of Renfrew photo, website)
Mike Coulas says his campaign to become Renfrew’s next mayor is not about reinventing the wheel.
A realtor and former councillor, Coulas has not been satisfied with the town’s governance recently and wants to find ways to move forward positively after contentious spending, such as the Ma-te-Way expansion overruns, that have seen an estimated 30% increase to his and other residents’ taxes.
Part of the reason for the rising tax burden is the town’s stagnant population, as Coulas points to Arnprior’s expansion and population boom as a good template for what needs to be done locally.
While he thinks the town has done well to prepare surplus lands for sale to encourage development, Coulas says there is still more that needs to be done to market and promote Renfrew outside the community to make use of the ample space and resources available.
He wants to get back to the basics of promoting the community as a place to put down roots through more events throughout town to drive up interest in Renfrew as a place to set down roots and not just a stop along the highway.
He faces five other candidates in the October 26 municipal election: Peter Emon, Callum Scott, Jason Legris, incumbent mayor Tom Sidney, and Josh Marquardt.
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We asked all responding Renfrew mayoral candidates the same three questions, with their answers in full below:
Question 1: Renfrew is expected to benefit greatly with the upcoming expansion of Highway 417 and the resulting potential for increased commercial, industrial, and residential opportunities. As mayor, how would you direct town staff to prepare for the economic and population growth?
Question 2: The town is feeling the pinch financially in multiple ways, including a lengthy debenture to cover cost overruns with the Ma-te-Way. Expansion project and volatile market conditions. How would you prioritize the town’s spending to navigate the situation?
Question 3: Beyond economic growth, what do you believe Renfrew needs to do to improve the quality of life for the people who already live here, and what would be your priorities as mayor?
(written by Kasey Egan)
