We continue our municipal election coverage series by looking at Central Manitoulin where two men are fighting for the mayoralty. We first heard from incumbent Gerry Strong and now it’s challenger Richard Stephens’ turn. Stephens lost the 2010 race to Strong. He says when he was mayor the council began a series of infrastructure projects beginning in 2003. Stephens likes the fact that the current council saw the value in these earlier projects especially when it comes to bridges. He says the current council has seen fit to continue this series of projects by adding two new councils. Meanwhile there’s one major area where both men running for mayor agree – and that is growth has helped the municipality. Stephens says the municipality has seen its assessment grow through several new businesses and adds it’s not just businesses. Recently a developer moved into the area and built townhouses that attracted the seniors’ crowd. He says if he got back in as mayor, projects he’d like to restart are infrastructure developments he began in 2003 when he first got into office.
Richard Stephens