My campaign for City & County Council has started

After 8 years with a City-only seat, I've decided now is time for a larger role

The Time Is Now !

In the previous 2 City of Woodstock elections my motto has been ‘The Time Is Now’ and though my game plan and projection has changed I can still utilize that saying.

After 8 years sitting as a City-only council member in Woodstock, it’s now time to expand my horizons to the role of City and County Council as our municipality has 3 positions at the county tier – mayor, deputy mayor and county, and city and county. For the first time voters will individually elect their representatives in 3 separate polls or races. Along with the elected mayors of the seven other municipalities (Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Southwest Oxford, Norwich, Zorra, East-Zorra Tavistock and Blandford-Blenheim), there are 10 on County Council.

I have made the decision for several reasons to focus on the duo City and County position. Leading the list of reasons is an ever-growing annual budget at the Oxford County level which grows quicker than inflation and consistently includes additional staff in most departments. Some may justify these numbers due to population growth and that ideology holds some merit, but the Oxford ledger requires a very close eye. Could it be time, for example, to conduct an efficiency study?

Another main concern on my docket is human services as the County’s plan for 808 Dundas was not analyzed properly in advance and the sticker price was too high. With about 55 beds planned, the renovations must include compliance to many guidelines, but can not be exorbitant. My preference has always been for the County to maintain a strong level of ‘asset management’ by owning , more bricks-and-mortar and maintaining all their locations properly, and relying less on subsidizing rents collected by other landlords for attainable rent levels.

As the weeks go on moving toward the Oct. 26 election, I will be writing a lot of information and ideas, as voters need to know that the candidates know what is happening in each-and-every multi-layered issue.

I have the experience and background:

+ 20 years as Realtor in Oxford County learning about municipalities, zonings, subdivisions, taxation and official plans

+ 8 years on Woodstock City Council, including 8 years on the environment advisory committee.

+ 25 years total on Woodstock recreation advisory committee, including 7 as chair.

+ 8 years on the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority board with the role of vice chair in 2025.

+ 4 years each on both the museum and accessibility boards.

+ Member of committee for Woodstock / East Zorra Tavistock boundary adjustments (No changes in much more than 8 years now, so I will write about North of Pittock Reservoir concerns and provincial population projections in another column).

+ Cancer society’s Relay For Life committee 9 years, including co-chair for 3.

+ Woodstock Sports Celebrity Dinner committee for 10 years, highlighted by 4 as master of ceremonies and 4 as chair.

+ Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame group member every year since its inception in 1996 and induction host at every event.

+ Co-chair of Perrydome Farewell Reunion event in April of 1996 before the new twin-pad complex opened 4 months later.

Additional sports involvement, and local leadership as Woodstock Sentinel-Review sports editor (1993-98), led to my ‘surprise’ induction in Woodstock sports wall of fame in 2016.  

On Oct. 26, VOTE MARK SCHADENBERG

The Time Is Now !

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