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Herb Epp enters mayoralty race istory could repeat itself this fall if HHerb Epp is elected mayor of Waterloo. The retired politician, who served as Waterloo‘s mayor in the mid 1970s, announced he will run for his former posiâ€" tion in the next municipal election, during a news conference held Monday morning at City Hall. "I have made this decision because 1 love this community, 1 care deeply about our future and I want the future to be posâ€" itive, progressive and proâ€" ductive for the citizens of ® Waterloo," he said. * Epp has spent most of his life in Waterloo. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, and taught high school locally for 15 years. He first entered political life in 1968 as a city counâ€" cillor. In 1974, he set his sights on the mayor‘s chair, and won the coveted position. . "I was an active mayor," Epp said. "I was not revoâ€" lutionary by any means, but I pursued a number of things. "As far as actions and perceptions, I didn‘t go after the big ticket items. My main focus was on running a good adminisâ€" tration." He won a second term as mayor and regional councillor by acclamation, but left both roles in 1977 when he was elected as a Member of the Ontario Legislature (MPP). Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW \In the fall of 1984, Epp was appointed to chair an Ontario Liberal task force on property tax assessment. He left politics in 1990 to pursue a career in real estate However, Epp said he‘s been considerâ€" ing a move back to municipal governance for some time. "I took some time after RIM Park became the issue to deal with." he said. "But we‘ll be facing a number of issues, and if I‘m elected mayor 1 don‘t plan to stay away from the major decisions. I‘ll do it Epp said. if elected mayor he will focus on three areas of immediate commitment: ensuring Waterloo is operating on a sound "If major decisions need to be made www.bâ€"kmotors.com By Anorea Bamey Chronicle Staff "But we‘ll be facing a number of issues, and if I‘m elected mayor I don‘t plan to stay away from the major decisions." Herb Epp Running for mayor Little Paint Can Go A Long Way Get rid of the winter blues and add some colour to your life! Now is the perfect time to perk up your living space with a fresh coat of paint. Drop by and ask one of our Decorating Consultants about the latest - painting tips and techniques for any room in your home financial basis; increasing citizen particiâ€" pation in the decisionâ€"making process, and making sure that Waterloo continues to expand its economy. "I want to ensure taxpayers are getting full value for their money," he said. â€" And that means developing and enforcing a more stringent Conflict of Interest Policy at the City of Waterloo, he "Under my leadership, city government will be the benchmark of ethical conduct in our community," he said. "Waterloo deserves a government where elected officials, appointed adminâ€" istrators and employees adopt and adhere to a pubâ€" C lished code of ethical conâ€" S duct that is among the c3 strongest in Ontario." ‘A Ahoe Epp said there should be ajor more committees estabâ€" ns." lished to deal with ward * concerns, youth, the uniâ€" pp versity, business and culâ€" r mayor tural communities, and seniors‘ issues. "I will also explore the possibility of increasing the number of wards to seven from five so that councillors can have betâ€" ter contact with their constituents and so that more voices may be heard at the council table," he said. Other issues of importance, he said, are a revitalized uptown, good neighbourâ€" hood services, and an efficient transportaâ€" tion system. And at 68 years of age, Epp believes he has enough life experience to turn plans into action. "I was 43 when I was first elected mayor. and people didn‘t think I was too young then," he said. "So I don‘t think peoâ€" ple will think I‘m too young now." . Epp said as mayor he would put a freeze on any effort to increase salaries for three years at the city council level. "When people see members of council approve raises for themâ€" selves, but say they‘re tryâ€" ing to cut costs, the mesâ€" sage is lost," he said. "I want to show people there‘s nothing in it for Herb Epp or anyone else." Epp also said there has to be more accountability at city hall. And the way to improveâ€" ment is through added citiâ€" zen involvement in major decisions, he said. PAGE 3 Schools vital to health of city‘s core, Woolstencroft says And closing Kitchenerâ€" Waterloo collegiate could be a proverbial nail in the city‘s coffin. That‘s why Woolstencroft. along with Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr and Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig, have joined to support keeping KC1, as well as Southwood secondary school in Camâ€" bridge, viable facilities. terloo can‘t afford Wo lose another piece of its core, said Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft. Both schools are now under consideration for closâ€" ing by the Waterloo Region District school board. "We‘ve been working for months to show the imporâ€" tance of schools to the health of a community, especially in the core areas," she said. "When you fill a core with only highâ€"rises. you lose the eyes on the street. And it‘s Jackie Pigott admired a colourful children‘s carousel she found while brousing through the items available during the annual From Grandma‘s and Grandpa‘s Attic sale, held Saturday the Waterloo Community Arts Centre. matey moro By Anprea Baney Chronicle Staff "Out of all of KCI‘s stuâ€" dents, only 50 are bussed in." Woolstencroft said. "We have young adolescents walking from all over Waterloo to get to KCI important those eyes are all ages, especially young famiâ€" lies." Woolstencroft pointed out, Waterloo has already sufâ€" fered many blows over the last few years, losing two Catholic elementary schools and four public schools. "We lost a lot of young families when those schools closed," she said. But closing KCI would perhaps be the most devasâ€" tating loss, as students who walk to the school keep Waterloo‘s core a bustle of activity. "Closing KCI would mean bussing all of those students elsewhere. and that just doesâ€" n‘t make any sense to me." KCI has a special place in the mayor‘s heart. as both her children attended and graduâ€" Treasured toy 583 King Street North, Waterloo Phone: (519) 772â€"1 127 HEERS â€"â€"& DESIGN CENTRES â€"â€" ww w heersdecorating com "Both of my children are highly accomplished adults, and both credit KCI for a lot of their success," she said. ated from the core school "The school has a long, illustrious history that should be preserved." _ h The mayor acknowledged a new secondary school will open on the west side of Waterloo in 2004. But she said there‘s room both schools in the city. _ "We‘ve taken our thoughts to Ministry of Education offiâ€" cials, but we haven‘t been able to talk to the minister of education directly yet." Woolâ€" stencroft said But with a final decision scheduled to be made by the school board April 28, time could be running out "I‘m very hopeful the school trustees will be able to forestall a decision to close until we get some response from the (province)." Woolsâ€" tencroft said