Randy McNeil: CK Election & Sports Interview
Below is Ward 5 council candidate, Randy McNeil’s responses to our CK Election & Sports Interview. Remember to vote on October 22.
Name: RANDY McNEIL
Hometown and Ward: WALLACEBURG, WARD 5
What’s your sports/recreation background? I have played baseball, golf, curling for most of my life. As a player I was part of a team that won 3 Provincial Championships at the senior level (over 21). As a coach I have coach our team to 3 Provincial Championships at the Midget and Juvenile age group, as well as a few 2nd place finishes at the tyke and peewee age bracket. As a curler I have participated in many bonspiels across Ontario, Michigan and Illinois. I have also run the Little Rock program for several years at the club for children 4-12 years of age.
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? I believe that sports plays a major part in pulling communities together, as well as providing an activity for both young and old alike. I have often heard that sports provides young people with an alternative to getting in trouble and I believe this to be true. As far as showcasing our community we need to have facilities and fields for people to participate in activities, I feel it is an important part of what attracts business to our community.
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? It is pretty early in the process to have formulated a final opinion about the new arena. There is still much work to be done before supporting this project, a lot of what I need to hear is what is the level of financial support the municipality will receive from senior levels of government. After that it will be to determine what it is that the municipality truly needs and not just wants in terms of size. I will listen to all sides present their reports before I make my decision, keeping in mind that I will always keep the taxpayers in mind, I do not want to overspend on anything. So lets get what we need and nothing more.
Do you have any other ideas or plans that would impact health, wellness, sports, or recreation in Chatham-Kent, and specifically in your Ward?
Nothing at this moment but it has been a long time since I have been on council and am not sure at this point that I know what is currently offered and what we could do to improve this.
Anything else you’d like to tell our readers and voters?
As I mentioned earlier I will do everything in my power to try and make sure that any spending is always done efficiently and in an effort to keep taxes at the lowest level possible.