Don Fuoco: CK Election & Sports Interview
Below are the CK Election and Sports interview responses for Ward 6, Chatham council candidate Don Fuoco. Remember to Vote October 22.
Name: Don Fuoco
Hometown and Ward: My home town is Wallaceburg. I currently live in Chatham and I am running for Ward 6, Chatham.
What’s your sports/recreation background? I was involved in minor soccer in both Wallaceburg and Chatham. I participated as an athlete (if that is what you would call me??), as a child and young adult with the Wallaceburg Minor Soccer Association. I have also served as a coach and parent of children involved in soccer with both the Wallaceburg and Chatham Minor Soccer Associations.
When roller-skating was popular, I would regularly attend the roller-skating rink in Chatham. It is there I would meet a young lady who would eventually become my wife.
What are your thoughts, or what value do you place in sports and recreation for the citizens of Chatham-Kent overall, and/or when showcasing Chatham-Kent to newcomers? Sports and recreation is important to a vibrant and healthy community. People work hard for their living and to be able to unwind after a busy day/week, doing this at a baseball diamond, soccer pitch, with the family at the beach or walking on a trail in a forest is a great way to reduce stress and maintain a health lifestyle. Many large urban centres offer many activities for it’s residents and Chatham Kent should be no different.
One of the hot topics leading up to the election, and over the past decade has been a new twin pad arena for Chatham-Kent. Where do you stand on this? What thoughts do you have? I am all for a twin pad arena, but the question is, are the residents of Chatham Kent willing to pay for it?? Current Administration and Council has already made a decision that, unless Federal and Provincial funds are provided (large percentage), it would likely be a challenge to proceed. There will also have to be private partnerships brought in, like a naming opportunity from a large, well funded Corporation. We will have to keep ourselves open to this opportunity. Will we be open the idea of having a McDonald’s/Subway/Tim Horton’s/Dominos Pizza and the likes on site to help generate revenue? How will we use the building during the “off season”? Will we open the arena to entrepreneurs who want to use the facilities to bring in outside entertainment like wrestling matches/concerts, operate an indoor go cart track, do we also include areas in the arena that will have a Wheels Inn type look ? Squash Courts etc. What will be done with the existing arenas in Chatham and surrounding communities..will they be at risk of being closed/torn down? What will be the response from those communities if their arena has to be decommissioned to fund/maintain this large twin pad arena? Where will we put the twin pad arena? Suggestions have been in the downtown Chatham area, on old Navistar property or somewhere near the 401. I don’t have a preference as long as it is utilized, is easily accessible to the entire Municipality and it is not a large financial drain on the residents of Chatham Kent.
As you can see there are still lots of questions before, I believe this project can proceed and be successful.
Do you have any other ideas or plans that would impact health, wellness, sports, or recreation in Chatham-Kent, and specifically in your Ward? It seems as though, we will soon loose our municipally owned railway and there have been some suggestions thrown around that the line could be used as a bike path? Running path? Etc. Great ideas. Council will have the final say, but I think that it is the people who should lead council on what to do with this land. We are surrounded by wonderful waterways and full forests with walking paths. We have to ensure that everyone knows what is available and where. I walk along the Brown Drain Pathway several times a week. I rarely see others on this pathway. It is also noted on the Ontario Trails website, however I will guarantee that not many people knows it exists. We have to promote within the Municipality that there are recreational activities within the borders of this great municipality and get people out and doing the activities that are available. Those who keep moving will be healthier.
Anything else you’d like to tell our readers and voters? I am looking forward to serving, not only the citizens of Chatham, but also the entire Chatham Kent. I have had the opportunity live and work in Wallaceburg and Chatham. I have also worked in Dresden and Blenheim. I have met many wonderful, caring and generous people who really exemplify what our community is all about. We are well into this amalgamation and we have to start promoting within Canada/Ontario that we exist. One area of focus during my time on council, if elected will be on economic development and business attraction. We have seen many people move to Chatham Kent because of the value they can enjoy here vs the large urban centres. We have to have the same mind set towards businesses in the large urban centres. Many businesses in the GTA are sitting on commercial land which are worth a great deal of money. We need to promote to the business owners and their employees to come to Chatham Kent. Sell the commercial property for millions and their homes for a million and move to CK where they can buy a larger home, have money left over, enjoy a short commute, enjoy the recreational activities which we have and live happily ever after. We have a huge opportunity to create a lasting legacy for generations to come. For those who live in Ward 6, Chatham, please join me in making Chatham Kent the envy of this great country in which we live.