Robert Hunt eyes mayor's seat
Jan 14, 2010 - 04:30 AM
By Chris Hall
SCUGOG -- Robert Hunt is a man with a plan.
Frustrated with how municipal politicians spend taxpayers' hard-earned money, the retired firefighter has drafted his own ideas over the past few years on how to divvy up the precious funds.
And now, Mr. Hunt is looking for the public's approval of his plan this fall when voters cast their ballots for Scugog's mayor.
"We've got to give power back to the people ... because we've lost it," he said of the budget process.
He proposes the Township allocate the necessary funds for all its needs. However, when it comes to spending the extra money on the municipality's want-list, Mr. Hunt says he'd like to put those decisions to a vote.
"We'll pay for what is needed and the taxpayers will have a say on what should be prioritized after that. With what (funds are left), we should go back to the people and prioritize things," he suggested.
Mr. Hunt, 60, worked in a municipal setting for 24 years as a firefighter with the former city of North York and City of Toronto. But this will be his first foray into the arena of politics.
"I'll talk politics, but I'm the furthest thing from a politician," said Mr. Hunt, who has lived in the Uitca-Epsom area since 1995.
He first started tossing around the idea of running for council in 2006, but opted to defer that idea for another four years to allow for some "deep thinking" and research.
That time allowed him to craft his plan, which calls for the mayor and council to "become a directorship of the taxpayers' money," instead of just allowing elected to leaders to decide on their own how funds are spent.
His days as a firefighter, said Mr. Hunt, "made me realize ... that the taxpayers were my boss."
Mr. Hunt's desire to enter into politics also stems from his wish to make a difference in the municipal political process for his grandchildren and their generation.
"I want to stand up now and say something about how our money is spent. I want to be able to say that at least I tried," said Mr. Hunt.
And while he admits that "economics are my main" platform plank, Mr. Hunt stressed that he's a fervent supporter of the Scugog library and would favour a pool facility somewhere in the township.
"I'm a character. I've got positivity and creativity, a plan and a sense of humour which guarantees a measure of success -- with a laugh," he said.
"This is grassroots politics -- you've got to give power back to the people. If it works, that's great. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
To date, Mr. Hunt is the only candidate in Scugog's mayoral race. Incumbent Mayor Marilyn Pearce has yet to publicly announce her intentions for the Oct. 25 municipal election.
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