Steve Clarke decided to seek a second term as Orillia’s mayor to help stickhandle some major projects to completion. But overriding that, he says, is a passion for his adopted hometown.
“The number one reason (to seek re-election) is I happen to love this city and the people,” said Clarke, who moved with his young family to Orillia in 1993 to open a downtown restaurant. “If I didn’t have that passion, I probably wouldn’t do it again.”
He said the workload is immense. “The long hours, nights, weekends and being accountable to the public 24/7 is a lot of responsibility,” said Clarke, 58.
But he was prepared for that. What he has found more challenging is the personal attacks, the “unfounded” claims around closed meetings and being taken to the integrity commissioner, who found no grounds for an investigation.
“As much as it is wonderfully rewarding, it’s also very challenging.”
Clarke said some files council has tackled are “extremely comprehensive.”
Those files include the completion of the $54-million recreation complex on West Street, the development of the Metro plaza and adjacent lands and the “transformative” plan to sell the distribution arm of Orillia Power to Hydro One as part of a large, multi-faceted deal.
“Doing something you believe in and following through when you face obstacles and challenges isn’t always easy, but it’s rewarding when you can see the benefits to the community,” said Clarke. “Hopefully (these will) mean wonderful things to the community for decades to come.”
The incumbent mayor says he remains firmly behind council’s decisions on those major files. He says council is keeping a close eye on the final stages of construction on the recreation centre and is working diligently with staff to lay the groundwork for the “preferred development” of the lands along Front Street and Centennial Drive.
He stresses the development will not touch Couchiching Beach Park. “The park is staying intact. It’s when you turn around and look toward the downtown …that’s the area” that will be developed.
Many have said during the election campaign that council has been blinded by the big projects and have let the little things slide.
“While I can understand some might feel that way, I can assure (people) that is simply not the case,” said Clarke, who said sidewalks, roads, parking and other issues are constantly on the agenda.
As an example, he said he worked long and hard with council and staff to resolve complaints about line painting. Clarke said the province “changed the formulation of the paint” for environmental reasons. To help combat the problem of the disappearing paint, council agreed to paint lines twice a year.
Then, after researching the problem further, council adopted a new technology that, in essence, melts “a plastic into the road”. The mayor says the new paint has a lifespan of three to five years.
He also acknowledged concerns about snow removal. But he said council has invested much time and effort – and cash – into combatting the problem.
Clarke notes the city has bought two new plows, a new grader and two new sidewalk plows in the last few years. “We’ve gone from eight to 12 staff on plows … (we’ve) spent a lot of money to improve winter operations.”
He said the issue is changing weather patterns that include more snow and many more thaws.
“People seem to think every other municipality is better,” says Clarke. “I talked to (Barrie mayor Jeff) Lehman often and they are facing the very same thing.”
Despite the big-ticket items and the unexpected fire that meant council had to build a new port facility, the city is in strong shape, fiscally, said Clarke.
“We are on more solid financial footing now than we were four years ago,” said Clarke, who conceded reserves are still depleted. However, he said the city is working on replenishing those and will be external debt-free by 2022.
That improved financial situation, he said, will help the city tackle social issues that need attention: affordable housing and food insecurity, as examples.
Underpinning it all, he says, is the right working conditions. He said one of his most important responsibilities as mayor is to “create an atmosphere” that fosters open debate. “Everything else follows,” he said, noting he encourages differences of opinion.
Clarke said he wants to continue to have a “collegial” council and while there is “lots to be proud of, there are also things we can improve on. And I’d like to see us finish some of the things we started.”
Editor's Note: Clarke and challenger Gord Launchbury, in addition to school board trustee candidates, will participate in a debate Wednesday at the Orillia City Centre. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.
