THERE IS NO CONTEST

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "GOOD MORNING AURORA": 

Election promises in regards to this development? Really? Whoever these councillors were...remember them in the next election. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 9 December 2015 at 13:35

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Anonymously in the past few days, some silly-Billy has been anxious for a contest in terms between myself and Mayor Dawe. 

The comment above illustrates the irrelevance. In four years, the golf course development issue will long be forgotten. 

I was elected in 1967, the first two year term of office. Until  then, elections were held every twelve months. In 1973 I became Mayor... served again in 75/76. 

Issues never had time to get stale

The population was about fifty-five hundred people until  the subdivisions in the south and north end were built. Aurora Heights and Regency acres increased the number to  seventy-five hundred in two years. There were no development charges . The impact of the tax bill for education alone was 

Immediate and clearly recognized.

The taps ran dry several times at supper time in the summer. Former city dwellers knew nothing about reservoir capacity. 

The arena had burned down and wasn't replaced for several years. 

We weren't much concerned about pie-in-the-sky. Problems were real the means were meagre. 

Increasing taxes on hard-pressed families to build reserves of millions would not have made any  more sense then than they do to me now. 

Clerk- treasurer ,Bill Johnstone was as well-known in the community as any Councillor. hJa responsibility to keep  things running on an even keele was even better recognized and respected. 

The town hall was mid- block on Yonge Street.Any  information needed could be obtained two steps in from the sidewalk. The post office was next door where we all went to collect our mail. 

Times  were different. In many ways better. But times change. I was part of the change and glad to have had the privilege. 

Comparing the Office of Mayor  then to today with the massive bureaucracy, provincial controls , multi-million dollar  budgets, billions at the Region, plans and master plans and studies coming out of our ears, and development charges to buy every municipal toy ever conceived of, is an entirely useless exercise and contributes nothing to the debate.