BIOGRAPHY
Growing up as a Brockton resident, I attended Immaculate Conception School in Formosa and Sacred Heart High School in Walkerton. With my father, Don Clark, being a 31-year employee for the municipality, I was predisposed to municipal politics at a young age. I attended Brock University in Niagara where I completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in computer science and business, finishing among the top in my class. I then pursued a two-year master’s degree in computer science where I studied large-scale optimization. In my studies, I wrote and read hundreds of pages of literature that went on to be published. Additionally, I was taking courses in finance and preparing to write my chartered financial analyst designation (CFA). During this time my passion for optimizing finances and allocating budgets had transpired.
With the upcoming municipal elections, I handed over my two-year seniority as Head of Robotics and Engineering at Ridley College, one of Canada’s premier private schools. I decided on returning to Walkerton to pursue my passion for municipal politics in my hometown. Upon returning I took a position as a database administrator at a local insurance company.
As a candidate, I am hoping to use my education, experience, and deep roots in Brockton to keep our home an attractive place for families to live and prosper. The world is expensive, and I believe in keeping Brockton affordable for generations to come. More details can be found on my website – www.mitchclark.ca.
BIGGEST ISSUE
I believe the most prominent challenge for Brockton today is our finances. The world is expensive, interest rates are increasing, and inflation is soaring. As a council, we must ensure life stays affordable for our community. I believe there has never been a more critical time to minimize debt than now. Most of Brockton’s long-term debt is tethered to the bank’s prime rate. As interest rates increase, repayments cost more. Brockton must reduce and consolidate spending where possible. In my travels around Brockton, one stance is consistent, “our taxes are too high.” The reality is, this statement has merit, we have a higher tax rate than many municipalities of similar size.
Down the road, we will need a new arena, and I hope to be part of the council that champions this movement. However, I believe grants, funding, and partnerships must be utilized. I will not vote to significantly increase debt, and consequently the taxes of our community. With a balanced financial statement, Brockton can allocate assets to areas that are more pressing, such as health care. The Walkerton hospital is in crisis, shutting down several times in the month of August alone. We must reposition Brockton so we can comfortably incentivize nurses and doctors to return home. Our hospital staff are being overworked, resulting in an exacerbation of the problem. Ensuring we have reserves to assist with making Brockton a more attractive place to live is crucial. Reducing our health-care pressure and increasing the quality of life for our community is of utmost importance.
So how does Brockton strengthen its balance sheet, and subsequently, create a more affordable place to live? Firstly, we need to be quick to act, delays in today’s world are costly. We need to give contractors and businesses ample time for bids and tenders, reducing our chances of being forced to a singular rate. We need to look at our macro-economic environment and determine whether now is the time for debt to be increased, decreased, or limited. We need to put some of our cash reserves into assets that offer dividends and stable returns, resulting in increased cash flow without increasing taxes. We must welcome grants and funding as alternative means of capital. However, we should be cautious that a one-time grant is not producing a long-term liability.
My education stems from the field of optimization, and when it comes to municipal politics, there is always room for improvement. I am running to add a new and fresh perspective to Brockton’s council. I am motivated, energized, and ready to build a better Brockton for all.
On Oct. 24, put a mark beside Clark, and together, let’s build a brighter Brockton.
