In an effort to provide fair coverage of the municipal byelection in Cumberland Ward, the Orléans Star sent a series of questions to each of the eight candidates in the race. The answers to those questions are being published in the lead-up to the Oct. 5 vote.

Candidate: Patrick Uguccioni
Age: 55
Education: College diploma
Occupation: Journalist
# of Children: 2 (ages 10, 12)
Bilingual: No.

Question #1 How will your past experience make you an effective city councillor?

This fall, city council will be faced with its toughest budget challenge since amalgamation. It has had to raid reserves to fill a $200 million hole in 2020 and 2021 is not looking promising.

Council will need to make some tough choices to protect core services. That can’t be left to a councillor with zero understanding of how city hall works. I will use my two decades of experience at city hall to find savings, starting with a bloated bureaucracy and cutting programs long past their best-before date.

An effective city councillor is one who can work with others to find consensus and compromise. I have relationships with some council members dating back more than two decades to protect Cumberland’s interests.

Question # 2. Please list the extent of your volunteer activities.

With a busy career and two young children, my volunteer efforts have been limited to helping coach my children’s sports teams and pitching in at school activities and outings.

3. What is your position on whether or not the rural part of the ward should be merged with Osgoode Ward?

I am opposed to separating Cumberland from the greater Orléans area and joining it with the Osgoode ward.

4. Please list your top three priorities should you get elected; and B) Why is the first issue on your list your number one priority and what do you plan to do about it?

Infrastructure will be a major focus for me. Years of underfunding need to be addressed in a geographically huge city and severe winters that have taken a heavy toll on roads and sidewalks.

Continuing on the topic of roads, an update to the Transportation Master Plan is coming. The needs in Cumberland must be addressed. Outside of LRT, there are other improved connections needed for this growing community. I will ensure projects that are important to the ward are included in the near future.

Empowering individuals and community associations in planning decisions affecting their neighbourhoods and backyards will also be a focus.

Infrastructure is a priority because we all rely on it whether we are in a personal or commercial vehicle, public transit or two wheels. I will push for our fair share. It can’t be done alone, however. I will work closely with east end councillors to protect a costly public asset that residents rely on every day.

If you have any questions for the candidate, you can contact him directly at patrick.uguccioni64@gmail.com.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)