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Inside Long-time councillor
Graham runs for mayor
NEWS
By HOWAIDA SOROUR hsorour@perfprint.ca
Opponents voice concerns over Fair Elections Act. — Page3
COMMUNITY
The Hub’s successful swim relay and bake sale garnered $11,000. — Page SF1
SPORTS
Lombardy Lightning wins Upper Canada Cup. — Page SF18
News - He has served on council since 1994, and this year in the wake of Dennis Staples’ announcement that he won’t run again, Ken Graham is taking the leap and running for mayor. “I would not have run if Dennis had not stepped down. I have nothing but praise for our mayor,” said Graham. At the same time Graham is clear on the direction council needs to be focused on over the next few years. “The mayor and council are going to have the hard job of wrestling with the town’s infrastructure deficit; that’s the one tiger that needs to be tamed. We’re in good shape with water and sewer treatment,” he added. According to Graham, streets like Beckwith will need at least partial provincial funding especially as it’s a connecting road (part of Highway 15) while the Stone Arch bridge is another major project that the town needs to secure funding to tackle. “Those two items are the drums that need to be beaten right now,” said Graham. Born and raised in Smiths Falls, Graham has served this community in a variety of capacities even before he retired. He served on the Tri-County Addictions Program for five years before it became the Tri-County Addiction Services (TRICAS); he served on the hospital board from 1993 until 2003. After joining council in 1994, Graham served on the Police Services Board, the town’s Finance Committee, Community Services Committee and Public Works Committee, before the town adopted the committee-ofthe-whole format. He has been serving on the Child Development Centre Advisory Board and is the council liaison to the Rideau Environmental Action League and has been for a decade. He is also the vice-chair of the Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit where he’s served for 11 years. He’s the chair of the Russ Beach
Smiths Falls Montague Airport Commission, and has served on that commission for at least 14 years. He’s co-chair of the Local Immigration Partnership Council and sits on the Lanark County Corporate Services Committee, and Lanark County Community Services Committee as well as serving as treasurer of the Rideau Roundtable. His wide range of committee work, and years of experience on council are, he believes, among the strengths he brings to the table. “It takes a full term on council, in my opinion, to really absorb the process,” said Graham. “It’s a misconception that it’s just a couple of meetings a month and that’s all. Mind you it’s also what you make it.” If elected, Graham says he would call on council to be more active attending functions. “Dennis raised the bar pretty high on attending functions in town,” said Graham with a chuckle. Already putting in considerable effort and time serving as a council member, he sees the mayor’s role as providing leadership for council and being the face of the community with the province and municipal partners. And on that issue he points out that his years of service on various boards including chair of the board for Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and president of the Ontario Municipal Water Association have given him the kind of exposure and connections that are important for the position of the mayor. “My role as president of the OMWA is done in May though I still intend to sit on the board with council’s approval of course,” he said. The former police officer and Ministry of the Environment investigator weighed carefully the risk of running for mayor and possibly losing a council seat before taking the leap. “I had some encouragement from other councillors and people in the community, and I’m available. I can give it my full attention.”
Photo by LAURIE WEIR
Bear flying high Sports - Smiths Falls Bears’ Zachary Senyshyn goes up and over sprawling Ottawa Jr. Senators player Robert Michel during first period action in Game 1 of their CCHL semi-final series on Friday, March 28. The Bears dropped their opening tilt, but shot back to win Game 2. In what’s turning out to be an incredibly tight showdown, the Jr. Sens captured Game 3 Tuesday night in Smiths Falls 2-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. See SF15 for more coverage.
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