The Mayor of Chatham-Kent finally has a challenger in the race for the top seat on council.
Andy Fisher has submitted his nomination papers for the 2022 municipal election.
Fisher told CK News Today the municipality is being mismanaged and can do better.
"The reason I have decided to run for Mayor of Chatham-Kent is because I personally believe that the municipality as a whole is not being managed properly, and that the people of Chatham-Kent haven’t, for a very long time, been represented by a person who is a direct reflection of the community itself," said Fisher.
He said he doesn’t like what he sees in Chatham-Kent anymore, claiming the municipality has been in a steady decline for years. Fisher also said some of the decisions the city makes are "truly baffling."
"The mall sits practically empty, high paying jobs are few and far between, and if it weren’t for the Casino and other small businesses that have opened in recent years, Chatham-Kent would have little to no entertainment value for its citizens," the mayoral candidate said. "They don’t cut the grass until it’s waist high, they’ve ran out of salt during winter, they hire construction companies who can’t live up to their reputations and are never on schedule, they attempted to fine a football coach for cutting the grass at Lark park when the city refused to cut it themselves. All of these things and more make the citizens of CK wonder who is truly in charge and where our hard earned tax dollars are going."
Fisher, who was homeless at 17 years old, said he has a four point plan to restore Chatham-Kent to it’s former glory of the early 90s when business was booming, there were things to do, and nobody seemed to have "any qualms" with city council or how the municipality was being run.
"My main point of interest is affordable housing, which I understand is not just a local problem, but a national crisis. I will work with both the provincial and federal government to bring as much new affordable apartments and homes to Chatham Kent as I possibly can, and work with local charities and organizations to combat the rising level of citizens who are without a place to live, and to offer them support in their time of need," Fisher said.
Fisher also plans to contact major corporations to attract higher paying jobs, bring more sources of entertainment, and to listen to taxpayers to tackle the issues of the people.
"I don’t believe in running, I believe in taking a stand. If the world around you isn’t ideal, change the world around you. That is exactly what I am trying to do. I want Chatham-Kent not just to survive, but to thrive. I want the citizens of Chatham-Kent to know that help is on the way," he said.
Fisher was born in London, Ontario, and grew up in Highgate with his mom and brother. He moved to Chatham when he was 17 years old and has lived here since.
Fisher is currently a truck driver, but has had many jobs within the community, including several years working as a security guard.
The nomination period for the 2022 municipal election ends August 19, 2022. Voters go to the polls October 24, 2022
Mayor Darrin Canniff is also running to keep his seat.