Straight from the candidates’ mouths
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Monday, April 28
City hall reporter Amy Pugsley Fraser spoke to candidates Matthew Christie and Tim Outhit about what led them to run for municipal councillor in District 21, among other issues. This is what they said:
WAS THERE A SINGLE ISSUE OR EVENT THAT PUSHED YOU FORWARD?
Christie: There were two events that convinced me to run for council. The first was the successful Bedford Community Council Association meeting where over 250 Bedford residents expressed their desire for change. The second was the funeral for my grandmother where hundreds of Bedford residents encouraged me to put my name forward to run.
Outhit: I believe that if you want things to improve, you have to be willing to step up and take action. That’s why I joined the Ridgevale Homeowners Association shortly after moving to Bedford in 2000. Now, like many Bedford residents, I’m concerned by the slow pace of progress on a rink, soccer fields, a new library, roads, playgrounds and more efficient public transportation.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?
Christie: I am very passionate about Bedford and hope that I can build on the work of our previous full-time councillors to make Bedford, again, one of the top places to live in Atlantic Canada.
Outhit: We live in a terrific community, but it can be better. I am not looking for a job, rather I want to offer my experience in business, government relations, consensus-building and relationship-building to help move Bedford forward. Bedford residents want a strong voice on council — they want the kind of leadership Gary Martin gave us. I believe I can be that voice.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE JOB?
Christie: I have been involved in Bedford politics since the age of 10. I am currently on leave from my position as executive assistant with (Service Nova Scotia) Minister (Jamie) Muir. This has provided me with insight into the workings of municipal and provincial government. As your full-time councillor, I will demonstrate my ability to bring people together to enhance the goals of Bedford and HRM.
Outhit: I’ve learned a lot about how to get things done with government in my career (novaknowledge) and in my volunteer job as a neighbourhood association president. I can bring that experience — with my track record of action on issues like sidewalks, security patrols, better lighting, sidewalk construction, traffic lights and a community website — to help all areas in Bedford get the amenities they deserve.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT CITY HALL?
Christie: All politics is local. I enjoy working at the grassroots level directly with the residents of Bedford to implement their ideas and policies to make our community a better place to live. I feel that the greatest impact can be made at the municipal level to directly enhance our community of Bedford.
Outhit: Issues dealt with by city hall affect all of us: traffic, policing, public transportation, property tax, and facilities construction and operation. If you can’t walk down the street at night because your area doesn’t have decent street lights, that’s a quality-of-life issue. If it takes you half an hour to drive through Bedford, that’s a basic issue. If your child can’t play hockey because there isn’t enough ice time, that’s a quality-of-life issue.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THE DOORSTEP?
Christie: People are frustrated with the lack of progress in Bedford since amalgamation. The population has doubled and our tax assessment base has increased to $1.8 billion, yet we have not moved forward with issues like seniors and recreational facilities, heavy traffic flow, public transit solutions and upgrades to our roads and walking trails. Residents expect full-time representation, as they have had in the past.
Outhit: The residents of Bedford want action on infrastructure, better public transportation, more all-age facilities, a sustainable recreation facility, another access point to the Bicentennial Highway from south Bedford, the Burnside Bypass, proactive neighbourhood policing, playgrounds and an off-leash dog park. Bedfordites are intrigued by the idea of more homeowners associations handling these issues; they like my experience on this front. Gary Martin and I discussed this model many times.
HOW MANY REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE YOU BEEN TO?
Christie: I have attended several council meetings in the past few months. I stay up to date with regional issues and monitor the direction of HRM by watching the meetings on EastLink. I have also attended numerous municipal and provincial meetings in Bedford and have a strong working relationship with HRM councillors and provincial ministers and MLAs.
Outhit: I’ve attended a few meetings in person over the years and watched many Tuesday evening sessions on television. I’ve attended many more meetings (and have many contacts) with members of HRM departments and bodies such as parks and recreation, traffic authority, engineering and the police.