Editor’s Note: Shelley Maika, candidate for Councillor in Madawaska Valley, responded to The Current’s request with the following statement:
Why am I running for Council?
Madawaska Valley is my home as it was to generations before me. I care deeply about my home and the people in it. As someone who grew up in Combermere, lived in the city for over a decade and now resides in Barry’s Bay I have respect for all the geographical areas of the township, and pride in our rich history and heritage.
As a dedicated community volunteer and experienced Councillor (2006-2010, 2014-2018, 2022-2026) I bring knowledge, experience and commitment combined with a common-sense approach.
Council is faced with hundreds of issues on many levels throughout a 4-year term. The most difficult part of the job is asking the hard questions and making difficult decisions. The one thing you don’t have is a crystal ball and no one has all the answers. All you can do is try your best, remember why you ran and what you were elected to do.
Our community has a large senior population with low and fixed incomes; we have young families and working age adults that are struggling. The burden of increasing taxes combined with the ever-growing cost of living is becoming unsustainable for many. My focus is to put our existing infrastructure and core services first and to limit tax increases. Broken down equipment, crumbling roads, unmaintained buildings and parks do not paint a positive image of the community. There are many wonderful ideas of things that can be done in the community but only so much the community at large can afford.
My belief is that spending must be prioritized, very simply put, on needs vs wants. I have never wavered from that belief and those realities are critically important today. As a lower-tier rural municipality we are trying to manage ever increasing operating costs, navigating more complex legislative requirements, administrative and reporting obligations, a growing policing bill now $1 million per year, while maintaining and replacing municipal assets valued at $100 million dollars largely on a small residential property tax base. With the current economic climate, rising costs of living, real take home pay declining, global economic uncertainty and I fear possibly more provincial down loading, I bring a common-sense fiscal approach in setting realistic priorities and using tax dollars efficiently, wisely and responsibly.
With the challenges rural municipalities are facing public education is critical and I would like to see us do a better job in providing that. I am a strong advocator to higher levels of government in support of our municipality and would like to see a greater focus on utilizing services that the County of Renfrew provides. 1/3 of every local tax dollar goes to the County. We must aggressively pursue grant funding opportunities in an organized and proactive manner helping to mitigate the tax burden on residents. I will not make promises that can’t be kept but I will always do my best to ensure a positive future for our beautiful community.
Photo submitted.