PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby r Published every Wednesday by M.B.M. Publishing Iand Photography Inc. Phone 668-6111 Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher- Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. L ie Free Press Building, 1: Brock Street North, P.(. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Michael J. Knoll Community Editor Marjorie A. Burgess Production Manager Karen Thompson Advertising Manager Malling Permit No. 460 Member of the WhItby Chamber of Commerce Municipal election issues Brooklin must stili be an issue in Up coming Last week, the cost of education was cited as the major issue in the forthcoming Durham Board of Education election. Cost is again going to be a big factor in the election for Durham Regional Council, which has now firmly established itself as the senior level of municipal government. The region is responsible for a wide varlety of areas planning to water and sewer to roads, all of these are costly projects. Incumbents seeking re-election to this body will stand in good stead because the regional council has followed tight financial policies, however, this does not preclude the idea that it Is too expensive for the average residential or commercial property taxpayer. All projections Indicate that property taxes will Jump substantially over the next few years. The reason that taxes will increase so greatly is because government can no longer keep up with the demands put on it. For example, regional government spends a large portion of its budget on social services and more specifically, welfare. The demand for welfare benefits is becoming so great that it is expected that Durham will run an ever increasing deficit in this area. There are no absolute solutions to the problems faced by regional government, however, those candidates that can demonstrate not only an un- derstanding of these problems but can offer good methods of reducing the impact of these problems will deserve support on November 10. Anyone aspiring to sit on regional council should be encouraging an aggressive program to attract new industry to the region, not only to provide jobs for our unemployed but to increase assessment and thereby reduce the property taxes that the average resident and small businessman must pay. Those standing for regional council must also come to grips with the development of Brooklin for despite what many local politicians feel, the issue is not dead. In fact, the Brooklin development will face its toughest challenge in regional council. It has been demonstrated that, with the excep- tion of two members, Whitby Town Council wants to see Brooklin grow. However, only three of those people will sit on regional council. The remaining 28 members of that council may have different concerns, different objections and different goals for the region. It should not be assumed that those 28 people have anything against Whitby or the proposai itself. They must look at the project from a regional per- spective, taking into account the needs of all Durham residents. The Free Press has cited reasons both for and against the development of Brooklin and feel that anyone standing for the senior level of municipal government must demonstrate a good understan- ding of the proposai and its impact on our com- munity. This publication is not saying that candidates who are against the proposai should be supported at the polis, but by the same token, we are not saying that those who favor the idea should be granted that support. All that is said is that those candidates who demonstrate a knowledgable understanding of the problem should be considered on election day. These are the two major issues that should be considered during the election campaign, this is not to say that there are noothers but these are the ones that should be considered by the voter and the candiadate. These are the two issues that must be addressed regional council contest in this election. North. This is the second in a series on issues facing Any candidate for office during this election, be the electorate in the upcoming November 10 con- it for Durham Reglonal Council, Whitby Town test. Any reader wishing to express his views on Council or the Durham Board of Education is In- the subject manner is invited to write to the Editor, vited to contact the Free Press so that we may The Whitby Free Press, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, L1N maintain the prIncîpie of equal coverage to ail can- 5A or drop It in to our office at 131 Brook Street didates. Whitby Theatre expands thisyear Dear Si r: As a result of growth over the past years, The Whitby Theatre Com- pany wiIl run each of its productions two weekends rather than one as it was done in the past. The reason for this are many. The major one, of course, Whitby Theatre Com- pany could not grow, however, without the help and support of the community at large. This comment is especially appropriate when applied to The Whitby Free Press. May i convey with this letter the thanks and sincere appreciation of the entire Whitby Theatre Company for your paper's coverage last season. Surely this coverage has con- tributed greatly to our growth. We look forward to seeing your reporters and photographers at our production rehear- sals next season as well. Thank you again. Sincerely, Bert H. Kirkham President Whitby Theatre Whitby Iroquois Swim Club thanks Free Press Dear Sir: On behalf of the Whitby iroquois Swim Club members and supporters, I extend my thanks and ap- preciation for the coverage your paper gave the Club during the 1979/80 season. Yours truly, Thomas J. Goulding, Vice-President, Public Relations 1979180 , -777, F .1 1