Mark Renaud Running for Mayor

Tuesday, 6 May 2014 11:45

Deputy Mayor Mark Renaud was first to file for Mayor's position in Tillsonburg for the 2014 Municipal Election.

Incumbent Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Tillsonburg, Mark Renaud is taking his shot at Mayor this October. Renaud was also the first candidate to file to run for the position of Mayor earlier this year.

"There was a sudden resignation with Mr Lessif, but even before he resigned I had announced that I was going to run for mayor. And I believe very strongly that when it comes time to this election, people want someone in the mayor's chair that is going to listen to their concerns."

While Dave Beres will fill the mayor's position for the interim, Renaud says the hot issue council will be facing over the spring and summer is the disposition of Tillsonburg Hydro, a locally owned utility which he says would not be sold if he was Mayor.

He says he believes very strongly that Tillsonburg Hydro should not be sold...

"Most people, I think there's maybe even one or two people that have said, 'I support selling the hydro company.' But I would say 99-percent of the people in this community feel very strongly that's something we do well in the electricity business and I think as mayor, if I'm elected and have the confidence of the people, we'll keep Tillsonburg Hydro."

Renaud says there are a lot of challenges in his community, aside from council dealing with possible sale or merger of Tillsonburg Hydro.

"Unlike Ingersoll and Woodstock, the other two large urban centres, we have a transportation issue here in Tillsonburg that needs to be addressed. Certainly if I make it to County Council if I'm elected Mayor, I think Oxford County has a responsibility and the politicians of Oxford County have a responsibility to help us in Tillsonburg solve some of those transportation challenges, so that's something I want to work towards."

Speaking to other issues, Renaud adds Tillsonburg has always been very protective of it's downtown and he'd like to continue to invest by growing the retail sector.

He says the town hall lease of Tillsonburg Town Centre is something that also needs to be dealt with before the next term of council begins.

Renaud considers himself an avid enthusiast with motorsports and sport-bikes. Other personal interests away from council include aviation, fitness, and landscaping.