January 11, 2012
Townships to go to
the polls
by Vance Gutzman
It took a by-election to have an election.
For the first time in many years, voters in Head, Clara and Maria (HCM)
will have a choice at the polls when they cast their ballots in the
upcoming by-election, which is set for February 13.
It's the first time since 1997, actually, that they will head to the
polls in the first place, as the past several councils have come to
office by acclamation.
Democracy is, however, proving to be alive and well in the
municipality, as two candidates filed their nomination papers by the
December 30 deadline, in a bid to fill the council seat vacated by Ed
Aiston, who resigned for personal meetings earlier that month.
One of the candidates is Doug Antler who, with his wife Sandra, has
owned and operated Antler's Kingfisher Lodge in Deux Riviéres
for close to three decades.
HCM, though tiny in population, is a geographically large municipality,
and Antler would like to see a broader base of representation at the
council table.
"There's a lack of representation from Stonecliffe to Deux
Riviéres," he says.
"A lot of us feel that the ratepayers are being ignored by council.
They seem to go off in their own direction."
Should he be elected to council, Antler vows to keep an open mind on
the issues of the day.
"I'll listen to the input of the ratepayers," he says.
Antler is also hoping that his community involvement over the past many
years will serve him in good stead when voters take to the polls,
citing things like his work with the Missing Link snowmobile club, the
Ottawa River Public Liaison Group and the Ministry of Natural
Resources Fisheries Management Zone 12 as examples.
Antler recognizes the demands of being a member of municipal
council, and feels he's well-placed to cope with them, now that his son
Jarett is poised to take over the family-run business.
"I'll be stepping away from the business more," Antler says.
"I thought about running a couple times before, but I just couldn't see
myself devoting as much time as I wanted. Now's the time."
The other candidate seeking office in Head, Clara and Maria is Debbi
Grills.
The retired school teacher who, together with her husband Bob, is
building a house on Loon Valley Lane, has been an active volunteer in
the community.
"By volunteering, I get to meet people," she says, citing her work with
the library board and waste management committee as examples.
Grills would like to take that one step further, now that there's a
vacancy at the council table.
"When Ed (Aiston) stepped down, nobody appeared to be interested, so I
put my name in the hat," she said.
"You have to give back to the community you live in."
Should she be elected, Grills says she is looking forward to getting up
close and personal with the finer aspects of the municipal
decision-making process.
"I've been to council meetings, but I always felt confined that I
couldn't ask questions," she says.
"I'm also hoping to bring a new perspective to the council table."
Grills would also like to be at the council table, to see how the
recommendations from the waste management committee she sat on are
implemented.
"I'd like to see how that all plays out," she says, noting that the
committee's recommendations will be phased in, starting this coming
spring.
Grills also believes her experience as a school teacher will stand her
in good stead, especially the "Three Rs" she always preached to her
students - those being respect, responsibility and resourcefulness.
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