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: Mark Scharfe
Age: 60
Education: College diploma
Occupation: Retired police officer, farmer
# of Children: 3 (ages 26, 28 and 30)
Bilingual: English and finished 1 plus level in French

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

The police officer is the “gear box” that makes the democracy machine work. The politicians make the rules, but its the police that ensures compliance. The police are also the people who ensure that the common man’s rights are protected under the “Charter of rights and freedoms”. This city council needs a police officer as a councillor to ensure that people, and their ability to make a living, are protected! I am not a sheep, and will not be pushed around by the mayor. Democracy is governance of the people, by the people, for the people. The councillor is a leadership position. I will only collect one dollar a year to do the job.

Question # 2 – Please list some of your volunteer activities.

• Chair, Ramsayville Community Association

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

I do not think that merging these two rural areas should be merged together, unless the number of councillors is cut in half..

Question # 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?

1. Scrap the stormwater tax on properties that have their own well and/or septic systems.The municipal act was used to force this tax. The Ontario Drainage Act has always made allowances to ensure the culverts under the roads were paid for out of the general funds. This tax is an abuse of the municipal act, and should never have been forced on properties with their own water and/or sewer systems.

2. Scrap the Green Bin program. This program will go down in history as the worst program ever to be forced on the good citizens of Ottawa, although it looks like the LRT might pass it!.

3. Back to weekly garbage pick up, with no limit on the bags. This is a service required for good sanitation in a community, and should never have been put back to pick up every two weeks.

For more information about the candidate visit www.markscharfe.ca.

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