Ward 1: Mortgage agent on ODSP and accountant in other ward try to unseat incumbent

CBC Hamilton asked all candidates running for Hamilton city council to share their priorities and speak to an issue that stands out to them as needing to be addressed in their ward. Their answers are left here in full, with lightediting only for spelling/grammar. For the candidates who did not answer the CBC Hamilton questionnaire, information has been drawn from their websites, when possible.All of CBC Hamilton'selection coverage can be found here.

A mortgage agent on ODSP and an accountant who lives in downtown Hamilton will try to unseat Ward 1 (Chedoke-Cootes area) councillor Maureen Wilson, one of the city's more progressive elected officials.

The west endward is the home of McMaster University, as well as Cootes Paradise and Chedoke Creek.

It'sbordered by the escarpmentto the south, Queen Street to the east, Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise to the north, and a green corridor running from Cootes Drive along the border of Dundas.

There are 29,850 residents in the ward.

It has a much higher proportion of residents between the ages of 20 and34 compared to other wards, newcomers, and educated residents, according to the city's website.

Voter turnout in the areaduring the last election was 42.5 per cent compared to the city average of 38.4 per cent.

The areahas seen out-of-controlstreet parties from students and a massive sewage spill in recent years.

Thethree candidates for councillortook part in a Cable 14 debate on Sept. 13.

Here are the peoplerunning to represent the ward at city council:

Ian MacPherson

MacPherson is 42 and describes himself as anODSPrecipient and mortgage agent.

Describe one pressing issue facing your ward and what you'd do about it:One of the major issues within Ward 1 and throughout Hamilton is traffic safety. The things I would do to address this issue are within my platform and they include reducing the speed limit along all streets and expanding the 30 km speed limit around schools and playgrounds. It is unsafe to be going any faster then 30 km when within a few blocks of a playground or school as kids travel far distances to go to school and play at parks. Another approach I would take is to paint speed limits on the road itself as taking your eyes off the road to find the speed limit sign is distracting, and distracted driving is not safe. My major implementation would be to address the dangerous intersections we have within Ward 1 and throughout the city by installing scramble cross walks along with a delayed light system. I do not believe making dual two way intersections is the best approach economically or for safety. I would also enforce traffic violations by adding more red light cameras and speeding cameras along main streets and side streets. The speed bump system is not as effective as a camera system, or as cost efficient as a camera system would be.

Name up to 3 policies you'd put forward or support if elected:I would support the 10year plan for our HSR system and instill that our city fix the roads they drive on, not only for the buses but all Hamiltonian drivers. I would put forth that we add a high-speed rail system from here to other cities Hamiltonians travel to for work and entertainment so we can ease the traffic and pollution within our city. Third, I would address the major issue we have of affordable housing by coming up with concrete plans to fix it. This would be something council would have to be 100 per centcohesive on and I think supporting the HATS [Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters]program is the first step. We need to give them the land they need to start before winter hits. I also would stand firm on the Provincial Policy Acts definition of affordable and suggest that council add it into new development permits that 15-20 per centof their project be geared to income, meaning rent can be no more then 30 per centof one's annual income.

John Vail

Vail is 68 and describes himself as a professional accountant. He says he does not live in Ward 1.He says hehas run municipally and provincially before.

Describe one pressing issue facing your ward and what you'd do about it: Public safety. no more fake homecomings.

Name up tothree policies you would put forward or support if elected:1. Transparency. No more secrets. 2. No intensification. 3. Support police not defund.

Maureen Wilson (incumbent)

Wilson isthe current councillor for the ward.Before becoming councillor in 2018, Wilson worked in senior staff positions inlocal and regional governments, and served as former mayor Bob Wade's chief of staff for two years right after amalgamation.

One of Wilson's more recent moves as councillor was to, along with Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann,spearhead revertingMain Street back to two-way traffic.

Her website includes a platform with commitments to improve transit, housing and more.

Some of the highlights include:

• Ending area rating for transit.
• Establish awalking advisory committee.
• Create a municipal loan fund to create and preserve affordable housing units.
• Introducing a stormwater financing scheme to incentive businesses and others with bigparking lotsto install drains in the lots.
• Adopting a Climate Emergency Screening Tool to evaluate how transportation projects align with climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

School board trustees

The candidates for school board trustees in the area are:

Public school candidates:

• Michael Kelly
• Cameron Prosic
• Wendy Thrasher
• Elizabeth Wong (incumbent)

Mark Valvasoriwas acclaimed as the Catholic school board trustee for Wards 1, 2 and 15.

For more of CBC Hamilton's election coverage:

• What some Hamilton residents who can't vote say about being shut out of local democracy
• OPINION | At 18, I only recently realized the importance of community engagement and politics
• Can city council handle that? Here's what each level of government actually does
• Here's why Hamilton's mayoral candidates think you should vote for them