Scott seeking re-election in Ward 2

After two years of serving Ward 2 as councillor, Jonathan Scott is seeking re-election this October.

Initially motivated to run in the by-election because he wanted to help improve the issues in Ward 2, Scott feels he’s achieved a lot in a short time but wants to continue to make a difference.

“I ran in the by-election because I felt someone with my experience in government and business could make a real contribution to the older end of town, the part of town that was here when I was a kid and was starting to feel left behind with all the development that was occurring in the west end of town,” he said. “We’ve made really good progress in the past 21 months, particularly repairing about a third of the roads in Ward 2 as well as investing in the older parks.

“We’ve started and put on track a lot of the big projects—like downtown revitalization or the riverfront trail system—and I want to see those projects through, I think that’s what the next term is all about. I’m running for re-election to see through what I committed to 21 months ago when I was first elected.”

In his short time on council, Scott says he’s proudest of the way he’s shown the ability to get things done for the residents. 

“Along with the roads being repaved and the parks investments, we’ve really done some substantial things on environment, while working with other levels of government, and on taking care of the vulnerable through fundraising efforts I’ve helped lead for the food bank as well as securing grants for the legion and Portuguese Cultural Centre,” he said. “There might have been a bit of a frustration two years ago that things, particularly during the pandemic, were a bit stalled and I think it’s true to say that I’ve helped get things going again and the results are starting to be seen. We have more to do but I think we’ve made good progress and things are getting done.”

Along with the completion of projects and fundraising efforts, Scott is most pleased with the fact he’s stayed true to his word by keeping communication open and listening to his constituents.

“I’ve been very transparent and kept people updated,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone gets great customer service. If there’s something going on in Ward 2, people are probably learning about it through my Facebook page or my newsletter. It’s important to get things done but also keep people informed and updated. I’m a big believer in getting the job done but part of the job is making sure people know what’s going on."

If re-elected, Scott is looking forward to working on “three big projects" in his area: the community centre revitalization, the Holland Street transformation, and the riverfront trail project.

“Those are all sort of under the umbrella of revitalizing the east end, the older end of town,” he says. “I think each of those projects is going to take a slow but steady multi-year approach. That’s what I see the next term being about, but at the same time keeping a focus on getting the little things right—there’s still a list of streets we want to redo and there are still some things we can do for the older parks. Doing all of this within the framework of fiscal responsibility, respecting tax dollars, and providing good customer service. So, those are three big projects to see through but it’s also about getting the little things right every single day.”

Having grown up in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Scott loves the community, which is what drives his passion for fighting to get things done.

His family moved to town in the early '90s and as a child was involved in the local hockey and rugby teams and took piano lessons. 

"And most of it when I was a kid was in Ward 2 because that’s where most of the amenities used to be," he said. "It’s a great town and a really small town at heart still even though it’s grown exponentially. I think it’s cool that I’m now the chair of the Fire Services Board and when I look around, a bunch of the fire department is women and men I went to school with and played rugby with. It’s kind of like our generation is finding a way to contribute to the town that raised us, I think there’s something pretty special about that.”

To learn more about Scott and his campaign, visit his website here. 

Election week is Oct. 14-24.