College: Davidson — A passion for politics, a love of this Ottawa ward

We need to break down the walls, silos and clubs at city hall. Let us use this vote to give the voice back to the people.

The Citizen invited candidates in the Oct. 24 municipal election to share their thoughts:

My passion for politics started at a young age. I was president of my elementary and high school student councils. I have an honours degree in political science from Western Ontario, and I was the president of my church council. Currently, I sit as an executive on my community association, and I am a new member of the parent council at our daughters’ school.

I am not backed by a coalition attempting to bring partisan politics to municipal government. I do not have a 100-year-old family name used to sway your vote. What I do have is genuine love for our ward.

I have lived in College ward for 15 years. And I am here to listen to you. I want to hear your ideas and your concerns. When I knock on your door, please let me know what your hopes and dreams are for this city, for our community. I am not just here to help; I am here to make things happen.

If College ward is your home, it is important to know it is my home too. If your power is out, chances are mine is out. This is our opportunity to grow together. I want to be your voice inside city council. I am your megaphone when you need to hear the truth. I will be your shield to protect what matters most. It is time to listen to facts, not fiction.

I will advocate for “reasonable” intensification and “responsible” development and will ensure that the proposed Secondary Plans for Baseline Road and Merivale Road are completed and implemented. I will work with each community to improve safety on our roads, including further traffic-calming and lowering speed limits.

I will work to retain underused facilities, such as the J.H. Putnam School, and reopen it as community space for child care and recreational programming. I will work to expand our network of pathways to promote active transportation and connectivity. I will advocate to review our transit system, ensuring it is affordable, accessible and efficient.

I promise open communication with my neighbours, with an open-door policy including neighbourhood walk-and-talks, coffee chats, community meetings, newsletters, social media and more. As a city, we cannot stay on the same path; we must challenge the norm, we must challenge bureaucracy.

We as citizens must work with city staff. They have been running this city day-in and day-out. They have cared for and loved this city for years. We need to break down the walls, silos, and clubs. Let us use this vote to give the voice back to the people.

I hope you will empower me to be College ward’s councillor. There is much work to be done. A councillor is not a family business nor a not-for-profit job. I have worked for 18 years — nights, weekends, and holidays — to meet the needs of my customers, now my constituents. I will not be influenced. I will not give up. I have got your back, College ward.

— Cheers, Wendy Davidson. For more information, wendydavidson.ca

1. 

   Here are the candidates for the 2022 Ottawa municipal election

2. 

   How and where to vote in the 2022 Ottawa municipal election