Vote Dick Carpani for Mayor
  Sarnia Ontario Canada

Candidate says age not a factor

Dick Carpani says he has what it takes to be mayor.

The 69-year-old former city councillor and retired professional engineer told members of the Seaway Kiwanis Club Tuesday his political experience will serve him well in his run for mayor of Sarnia this year.

In response to questions about his age, Carpani dismissed any concerns, stating he's fit, healthy, and, after being retired for 10 years, has plenty of time to be mayor.

He also pointed out one of the province's most popular mayors is 85-year-old Hazel McCallion of Mississauga.

"Age is a number and I don't .I think that's an issue," he said.

In what Carpani called his' first campaign speech, he also talked about some of the changes he would like to see at city hall, including the mayor's relationship with council.

He alluded to recent controversy over the flow of information from city hall to individual councillors, and Carpani said that would change if he won the Nov. 13 election.

"I think council has to work together," he said. "(Councillors) need to be prepared and have all the same information as everyone else." Carpani also criticized Mayor Mike Bradley's regular press," conference on the Fridays before council meetings, in which he goes over the upcoming meeting's agenda. Carpani said it allows Bradley to add his own spin to the issues.

"I don't think that's the way to do things," he said.

Questioned about his vision for the mayor's position, Carpani said, "the guy at the top is the window to the outside world. He's not the guy who runs the place."

Carpani said the mayor should be the person working to address the most important issues facing the community, not the minute details of the operation of city hall.

Carpani has a long political track record, including runs in both provincial and federal elections as a candidate for the Conservatives. He has also served on many committees and boards.

Most importantly, Carpani notes, is that he has already served as a councillor. All of Sarnia's mayors, in recent history, have served as councillors prior to winning the mayor's job, he said.

He also dismissed the suggestion the incumbent is too strong to be defeated, citing complaints about Bradley, including his history of "squabbling" with previous councils.

"The way I operate and do things would be a very welcome change," Carpani said.

Carlos Murray is the only other person who has filed so far for the position of mayor.

(By STEPHEN HUEBL The Observer 2006 03 15)