Incumbent councillor Brad Clark. Photo credit: City of Hamilton
The Ward 9 Cable 14 debate took place on September 20. A replay of the debate can be watched via YouTube. Incumbent Councillor Brad Clark is up against three challengers.
Ward 9 consists of Upper Stoney Creek. The northern border is the Escarpment. The southern border is the hydro corridor just south of Regional Road 20. The eastern limit is the Hamilton-Niagara region border, and the western limit is the Upper Red Hill Parkway.
The ward is home to Heritage Green Sports Park, Valley Park Recreation Centre, Eramosa Karst Conservation Area, and Felker’s Falls Conservation Area.
2022 Candidates (Alphabetical by Last Name)
CLARK, Brad – Present at Debate
JUCHNIEWICZ, Walt – Present at Debate
LANZA, Peter – Present at Debate
NAEEM, Muhammad – Absent. Did not Respond.
The debate consisted of a two-minute opening statement from each candidate, questions from local media, and then an open forum period for candidates to ask each other questions.
Clark used his opening statement to tout his latest major projects including the renewal of Valley Park Community Centre and the introduction of a new skate part at the site.
“I am known for my research and am known to ask tough questions,” he said.
Walt Juchniewicz spoke of his expertise in the IT infrastructure industry, mentioning the need to bring reliable high-speed internet to the more rural areas of the ward.
Lanza then had the chance to speak, asserting that “we’ve all lost trust in this city council.”Lanza added that he is endorsed by former City Councillor Doug Conley. Conley came second in the 2018 race, while Lanza placed third. Lanza and Clark are the only two candidates who ran in 2018 that are running once again.
Conversation then turned to the defund the police movement. All candidates said that they support the police.
“I believe we should equip the front line with everything they need,” said Juchniewicz.
He even went so far as to say that Hamilton Police Service (HPS) is one of the best police forces in “probably the entire world.”
Responding to those who say that mental health crisis calls should be reassigned to groups outside of the police, Clark said that HPS already has the Social Navigator Program and COAST crisis teams to help with emergencies of that nature.
The candidates then discussed residential density. Lanza’s position is that the ward “should not have duplexes in neighbourhoods.”
Despite City Council voting against an expansion of the urban boundary to build more housing, Lanza said that his personal opinion is that the Elfrida area should be developed anyways. He said that while the public seems to be against expanding the boundary, those same people are also against increased density and the congestion that will inevitably come.
Clark expressed that the results of the plebiscite sent out by the city that clearly indicated residents were against any urban boundary expansion should be respected.
Lanza responded that “we have to look at the real issue and the consequences” of preventing residential growth in Elfrida. He digressed that ultimately the province will weigh in and have the final say.
Election day is Monday, October 24 and polls are open from 10AM-8PM at 8 locations across Ward 9. To find out your closest location click here.
2018 Election Results
Brad Clark – 2,539 – 38.73% (Elected)
Doug Conley – 1,961 – 29.91%
Peter Lanza – 1,529 – 23.32%
David Ford – 330 – 5.03%
Lakhwinder Singh Multani – 197 – 3.00%
Note that the author of this article, Kevin Geenen, is running for Ward 5 City Council Hamilton (Gray Rd to Red Hill Parkway plus the Beach Strip). Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on social media. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton Neighbourhood Watch crime updates and no-nonsense news graphics. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal from Governor General David Johnston. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He currently works as a journalistic writer and office administrator.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
