Muirhead challenges Wilkinson in Kanata North election race
Posted Jul 15, 2010 By Tiffany Williams-Lepack
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EMC News - Candidate for Kanata North Matt Muirhead wants to restore trust in how things are run in the City of Ottawa and the councillor who represents Kanata North. He thinks part of that is to have more open communication with the residents of the ward and he feels communication is his greatest asset. 
Tiffany Williams-Lepack, Kanata EMC
Matt Muirhead feels he is better prepared to run for the council seat in Kanata North than he was back in 2006.
"I will be listening as well as talking because when we elect city councilors one thing I find is a problem is they lose sight of the bigger picture. You elect a city councillor who represents your ward so you have to fight for what your ward wants and what you think your ward needs," said Muirhead. "You also have to maintain a city wide vision and that is also something, they call it Parochialism, (when) people are just concerned with their neck of the woods. While yes, you should be concerned with your neck of the woods...you should be concerned about your neighbours. We are one city, let's start behaving like it and move us ahead to the 21st century."
Muirhead immigrated to Canada from England in 1984, starting in Toronto and later moving to the Ottawa area in 2000. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from York University and earned is Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa.
He has been married for eight years, has three children and has been teaching civics and drama at Sacred Heart Catholic High School for the last five years. He ran in the 2006 election and came in third place receiving approximately 21 per cent of the votes. Councillor Marianne won the riding with 36 per cent of the vote.
BETTER PREPARED
He says last time he was just a high school teacher. This time, however, he has built a network of community contacts and is prepared to run again.
Muirhead is currently the president of the Briarbrook and Morgan's Grant Community Association and has helped plan various public meetings on traffic, transit, safety and community fun days.
In 2008 he was nominated for the City of Ottawa Civic Appreciation Award and has also led a campaign on fighting graffiti in the community. He feels he has learned a great deal and is engaged with an eye on the future.
"I wanted to make sure I was ready and I learned I loved it. I love talking to people I love listening to their issues and really engaging in intelligent debate and trying to find innovative solutions to ongoing problems," said Muirhead.
LOCAL ISSUES
Muirhead was upset with the recent special services levy (on burying the hydro poles) and what really upset him was the process. He felt that something should have been done earlier and the tax was an eleventh hour move.
"When (councillor Wilkinson) is no longer in office we will still be paying a tax she has implemented unilaterally. I'm not so much against burying the hydro lines, I agree with that and I'm not so much against the tax, I don't like taxes but what I cannot stomach is the lack of public consultation."
He says he wasn't planning on running in this election, however the issue that put him over the edge was councillor Wilkinson's handling of the development in the South March Highlands. It's another issue he feels she has come to battle at the eleventh hour.
"I'm not running as much against (councillor Wilkinson) as I am for the future of Kanata and the City of Ottawa. It's less about that and more about moving ahead. The time is right to move on. I think I have the community experience, I have people who trust me. I've built a team, a network and a reputation for excellence and that people can trust me," said Muirhead.
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE
He feels it would be a great privilege to serve and hope voters give him the opportunity and would bring to the residents a person who can balance debating issues and listening and adapting to the people.
If elected he wants to find ways to find savings around the council table so tax payers are not over burdened. He also wants to deal with development and put the decision making back in the resident's hands. His immediate goal if elected would be to work together to build a more prosperous city for the 21st century and focus on the future.
For more information visit Muirheads website: www.mattmuirhead.ca
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