Jeannette Douglas says the last few months have been a difficult time to be a councillor in Brooke-Alvinston.
But the 70 year-old member of the Alvinston Community Group and Canada Day Committee is seeking a second term on council in the Oct. 22 election to see through some of the projects she has been a part of in the past term.
Why are you running for council?
“I would like to finish some of the things we started. You get projects going, like they’re renovating the upstairs of the arena – I would certainly like to see Brooke Fire Rescue become one,” she says adding she would like to see some of the infighting in the community over the issue end.
Is that the biggest issue in the election in Brooke-Alvinston?
“Probably. It seems to be. Certainly I was very upset when the (Inwood) Firemen’s Association told me I couldn’t go to the chicken barbecue because my husband and my family, we’ve always supported Inwood. I know it is not the majority of the people who feel that way. I would certainly like to see it work through and there be a solution. I would like to see some of the firemen come back.”
Is there a way for that to happen?
“They are doing well with the men that they have there, I don’t know whether this election will cure this problem. I have a feeling some people are running with one thing in mind.”
There are suggestions some of the candidates would like to get rid of staff they feel are responsible for the problems?
“You and I both know that is not going to happen. That’s not going to fix the problem. They seem to miss the point that there are requirements….If we would take a breath and realize that if they did what they had to do, (the new fire chief) wouldn’t be here.”
How do solve this incredibly divisive issue?
“I don’t know. It’s not that all the Inwood firemen didn’t have all their training and health and safety. It is just some of them. And they’ve made a big issue out of it…it has caused a lot of problems and that’s too bad. If people are just running with one thing in mind, what is going to happen. We’ve had that happen before here. There was a gentleman who was adamantly against severances, wanted to change, and it’s a provincial standard – you can’t just change it. So he quit. Are these people who are running are they going to win and find out there are a lot of things you don’t have control over.”
She adds voters tell her they are wary of one issue candidates.
Is there any thing you would like to see happen in the next four years?
“We seem to becoming a bedroom community. A lot of real estate is changing hands…but I think the people coming in are not young people…they’re 50 and over. There need to be programs for seniors.” She’s also concerned an addition to the arena wouldn’t be well used because there just isn’t the kids there used to be.