Over the next week, BradfordToday will be highlighting the candidates in the Ward 2 by-election taking place Nov. 27 - Dec. 7.
Bradford native, Stephanie Sinclair is running for the vacant Ward 2 Councillor seat in the upcoming by-election at the end of November.
You may have seen her signs around town with the tagline “Let’s get back to the core.”
BradfordToday met with Sinclair to chat about her platform and her visions for the future of the town.
For Sinclair, who has lived in Ward 2 her entire life, she says being a councillor is about learning what the residents really want and need and advocating for them.
“Helping people, that is the core of public service,” she said. “I think the most important thing for me to do here is step back and see what people need from me and be there for them.”
As a real estate broker, Sinclair says she has knowledge about real estate which would assist her in making decisions on council.
“Infrastructure is huge,” she said. “There’s a lot of unused real estate in this town, and I’m coming up with ideas for it.”
She says her main focus will be on the aging infrastructure in the downtown core.
“I have a few large scale ideas and want to see if the pieces fit together," she said.
In terms of development, she wants to focus on updating the assets the town already has, and grow smartly.
“Right now Bradford has a real opportunity to grow, and not just new Bradford,” she said.
Although it’s not a requirement for candidates to be a resident of Ward 2 to run in the by-election, Sinclair does and she believes it gives her a competitive advantage, knowing first-hand what the true issues are in the area.
“I want someone who is going to be living in my ward,” she said about the future councillor, “if my garbage isn't getting taken out, neither is yours.”
She is excited about the possibility of working with town staff and the current council.
“I don’t think they have been doing a bad job, but like anything in life, there is always room for improvement and different perspectives,” she said.
More than anything she wants to bring in more recreational activities for residents, in particular the youth.
She was upset to hear about the recent news on Bradford Highlands closing at the end of 2021 after selling the land to a developer.
“This news is very troubling to me. I believe we need a town with more leisure activities and outdoor enjoyment, not less. I will immediately be heading into the planning department to verify the current designation on the land, speaking to the developer as a real estate broker and begin to work on a solution that will benefit all parties involved,” she said.
Sinclair would also like to increase voter turnout for Ward 2 and engage them in town politics.
“What I hear from Ward 2 people is that they feel forgotten,” she said.
According to the report from town staff at the Sept. 1 meeting of council, in the 2018 municipal election only 32 percent of Ward 2 residents voted.
“I’d like to change that,” she asserted, noting she has a great team of volunteers who are helping her campaign and engaging constituents.
So far she says the response from residents at the door have been great and looks forward to meeting and speaking with everyone in the Ward.
Sinclair is available to chat with voters by phone at 905-806-VOTE or by email [email protected]
You can follow her on Instagram @bwgward2 or on her Facebook page.
