One more day!

Monday night at 8pm the polls close and the counting begins. I have had an extraordinary busy week. Started a new job last Thursday, and finishing up on the closing of the Embro Hall building sale. Today I am installing a new to us stove. Leaves needed raking, girls need rides and other life things that happen when I made other plans. And of course Halloween is just around the corner. I've been too busy to think about the election this week other than getting my ballot in the box. Working steady days has also required me to share the computer with the homework needs of my daughters so pardon me for not blogging this week.  

It is really hard to answer the question "Do you think you have won?" I believe that regardless of the votes, I have won by just rising to the challenge and the experience and of course the folks I have met. Things I would have done different, include putting my name in the ring earlier. I think I would have liked to do a YouTube video and maybe posted a powerpoint slide show. Overall I am happy with the campaign and delighted that 20 folks have sought out to be a voice on council. Yes, I want to win and to be Mayor and represent Ingersoll on County Council. Yes I need your vote on Monday if you have not voted. 50% of residents did not vote in 2006 and hopefully more do this year but the last I checked we will be lucky to get the 50% that did to repeat the exercise of their democratic rights.

This election did set a tone for the next 4 years. Council will do well to keep folks in the loop beyond the minimal legislative requirements. We already see a change in the posting of the quarterly financials and the ERTH newsletter on the town website. Fusion presented their financials for the last 5 years and is making an effort to reduce the costs to the Ingersoll Taxpayers through social enterprises and I have pledged to help them if they wish. More people are watching what council does now and have found their voice.

For me though Monday night will be another decision night. If I win, there is so much to do. If I do not win, there will be even more. I have put my career on hold for several months awaiting Monday's decision. It has not been easy, from more than a financial aspect. Having a bigger paycheque does afford you more freedom to choose what you want to do with your money. I have learned that there were a lot of things I use to buy that I no longer miss but I miss the evenings out with friends at dinner and social events. We really need to look at how we spend our money and try to keep as much as possible out of the hands of government and large monopolies. We have been hit miscellaneous fees and charges that are promoted to us as only $5 a month or are hidden in our shrinking paycheques. Only consumers can help our economy locally and I want to contribute more. Will I start a side business? Will I go in to a career in Human Resources to match my recent training? Will I go back to being a manager of a business again? I await the decision of voters on Monday.

I do know one thing though, is that if I am not the next Mayor of Ingersoll, I am not going to stop pushing my platform of protecting our wallets. I am not going to sit idly by, hoping that the next generation will fix what us Baby Boomers have wreaked havoc on. We really need to start now fixing government and relying on our community instead of Toronto or Ottawa to decide what is best for us. But for now, I wait.

Cheers

Tim Lobzun

Get out and Vote Monday please!