Cecil Clarke unveils plan for re-election campaign in Cape Breton
Incumbent Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Mayor Cecil Clarke has unveiled an extensive election platform, as he seeks to be voted into office again.
Clarke's platform, announced Friday, contains 100 points he plans to present to council for approval if elected.
The first is a suggestion that council meet annually with MLAs and MPs to report on goals.
Number 100 is that CBRM staff should help organize Remembrance Day events to celebrate the Armed Forces and veterans.
Throughout his 100-point list are suggestions for everything from growing the economy to making government information more accessible.
Some work already underway
A priority for Clarke has been construction of a container terminal in Sydney, but his platform barely mentions the port.
He told reporters that's because the project is ongoing.
"We will be going forward in the coming two months before the official writ with more development around the port, and during the campaign there will be many policy statements associated with the progress that we are making," he said.
Clarke's promises include improved municipal services, better recreation facilities, eliminating the debt and, at the same time, no tax increases.
"Where is the revenue stream coming from? It's all about living within your means, being as efficient as possible, energy efficiency, reducing cost structures internally, operationally," he said.
"The partnership agreement with the province is about a whole new agreement going forward. It's not about looking at the former equalization [payments] but a new partnership itself."
Clarke repeated an earlier promise that was not fulfilled during his first term.
If elected, Clarke said he will eliminate a controversial $140-a-week travel allowance for councillors and replace it with a mileage-claim system.
So far, Clarke is the only mayoralty candidate to declare.
Clarke is a long-time politician, first elected as an MLA in 2001. He was re-elected in 2003, 2006 and 2009.
Clarke unsucessfully ran for the federal riding of Sydney-Victoria in 2011, and has been mayor of the CBRM since 2012.
