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* REGIONAL SPENDING _ GOOD GOVERNMENT _ TRAFFIC "Everybody has suddenly woken up to the fact we‘re a big city and we‘ve got Toronâ€" toâ€"type traffic. Candidate Bob Verdun said installing a lightâ€"rail transit system down King Street is not feasible at this time, however, he proposes a goâ€"train service and buildâ€" ing sixâ€"lane roads. Seiling also cited improvâ€" ing road capacity as one of the changes he would make if he‘s reâ€"elected. "So it‘s very important we get all the building blocks in place," said Seiling, who supports a rapidâ€"transit sysâ€" tem and rail links into Toronto. Incumbent Ken Seiling said if the proper public transportation system is not put in place over the next few years, the region runs the risk of becoming a comâ€" munity of urban sprawl and gridlock. How this should be done, however, is up for debate. Regional government spends over 50% of your property taxes. Each year our taxes keep going up but are services any better? When previously on council, I prided myself on balancing improved services with minimum tax increases. During my tenure, taxes only increased an average of 1.55% per year. Current councillors raised your taxes by an average of 3.6% per year. We need to do better! I will put the brakes on regional spending and hold tax increases at the rate of inflation or below. ddressing the region‘s A;ransporlation probâ€" ems is one issue the three candidates vying for the regional chair position in next week‘s municipal election agree on. Transportation a chief concern for regional chair contenders "We‘ve had an official By Jennirer Ormston Chronicle Staff "We‘re in the middle of doing a growthâ€"manageâ€" ment plan that needs to be He decided to run again because he thinks the region is at a critical point in its history in terms of growth. Seiling has served as regional chair for the last 21 years. "We‘re going to run out of water. The restrictions have worked thus far, but there‘s still danger to our water supply." For instance, he wants to expedite the process of establishing a pipeline from either Lake Huron, Georgian Bay or Lake Erie. The 38â€"yearâ€"old elecâ€" tronics‘ technician decided to run because he thinks there are several issues that need to be addressed. This is the first time Ross, who has lived in Cambridge for the last 12 years, has tried to enter the political arena. And candidate Robert Ross is concerned about public transit‘s lack of popuâ€" larity in light of the gridlock on the region‘s major roads. plan for the region for 30 years that was supposed to prevent that ... and almost nothing has been done to inplement the goals that were set back then." As a Public School Trustee, I successfully worked with both school boards to form one jointly managed transportation department. This reduced costs for the taxpayer and improved service for school children and their families. We need more of this kind of leadership! Coâ€"ordination of services between municipalities, joint tendering proposals, a combined economic development office and shared staffing are just a few examples of how local government can be improved. "Nobody‘s children will be able to afford a home unless they manage to land a highâ€"tech job with stock options," said the Kitchener resident who works as an international development "It‘s (prices) out of conâ€" trol now. It will become just absolutely disastrous if we continue on the current course. Verdun, 57, agrees that providing competitively priced housing for regional residents is something that needs to be done. In addition to managing growth, Seiling supports increasing the availability and quality of child care and encouraging more affordâ€" able housing. The 59â€"yearâ€"old has also received significant encourâ€" agement to run again from his constituents. finalized in order to protect the quality of life in this region." "I neither need the Jjob ... nor do I want the job ... " â€" Bob Verdun Waterloo regional chair candidate East side residents are stuck by an inadequate bridge over the Grand River at Bridgeport. West side residents have to fight traffic just to get to the Expressway. | will work with the pro#ince and the region to improve east side access over the Grand Rivermd build a new Highway 7. #Â¥vill also work to ensure that on the west side Trussler Road is extended to the 401 and a new interchange is constructed. T RI "But this is still my home community." "It‘s time for a change." "I neither need the job ... nor do I want the job hecause I have other things I would really rather do. Verdun decided to run for chair because he feared Seiling would be acclaimed. "People in this commuâ€" nity know me. My first interâ€" est has always been this community, and continues to be." Seiling, who lives in Elmira, thinks he‘s the canâ€" didate to vote for on Nov. 13 because of his "proven track record." "I think there has to be a lot more ... looking forward to the future so our children have the natural landscapes to enjoy and use." "Probably what I would change are some of the attiâ€" tudes that we have towards developers," he said. But council needs to be more farâ€"sighted, he said. Ross is concerned about protecting the natural enviâ€" ronment. In Waterloo, that means addressing future development on â€" the moraine. "I think the region‘s been running fine. There haven‘t been any big snafus or anyâ€" thing," Ross said. consultant Environmentally sensitive lands must be protected and restrictions placed on urban sprawl. At the same time we must embrace a balanced approach to growth and encourage intensification and reâ€"urbanization of former industrial sites. GROWTH Over the past year there have been more than 1400 complaints about brown water. The City plans to fix the problem over the next 25 years. This is not acceptable! With your support, | will convene a public meeting with regional and city water officials to develop an action plan to resolve this issue sooner rather than later. WATER