Morpeth resident Harold Atkinson has filed his papers and is running to become the next Mayor of Chatham-Kent.
Atkinson, 55, who works in the agriculture industry, said he’s had enough of city hall and wants to make things better.
“I’m running for Mayor because we are in serious decline,” Atkinson said in a written statement sent to the Sydenham Current.
“People are moving away, our population has dropped by 8,000, our police force is not very good, our roads are very bad, city hall keeps adding more employees and taxes keep going up.”
Atkinson said after Labour Day he plans on releasing a budget with tax cuts.
“50% industrial, 25% commercial, farm 10% and residential 10%,” he said.
“These cuts will stimulate growth. The only way to save our schools is to have more students, which come with more jobs. It’s your money… no government should decide how you want to spend it. This budget will include road repaving, water and sewer line improvements.”
Atkinson added: “As our Mayor I will be Mayor of all of us. I will be actively seeking jobs with this tax cut, we will be significantly more competitive than other municipalities. I will not be going on trips to China, which are in fact vacations paid by us.”
This is Atkinson’s first time running for political office.
He joins current Mayor Randy Hope, Chatham Coun. Darrin Canniff, local advocate Alysson Storey and local resident Robert Powers in the mayoral race.
Election Day is October 22, 2018.
