By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Randy Voakes is no stranger to local politics. He served as a Ward One Council rep on Essex Council for 15-years – from 2003 until 2018 – and is now looking to regain a seat at the local municipal decision-making table.

There are a few things he would really like to see happen in the next Term of Council, and he’d like to be part of implementing those ideas as a Ward One Councillor.

The first is getting movement on the future Essex Sports fields, located off of Batten Side Road. This was talked about when he was on Council previously, and he would like to see more attention poured into this project.

“It is one of those deals now, where it is sitting idle. The sign is fading out, nothing is happening, and people are very inquisitive as to what is going on out there,” he said.

If he manages to regain a seat on Essex Council, Voakes wants to bring the Essex Sports fields to the forefront.

To him, it’s an initiative like when he was asked to sit on the Essex Arena Expansion Committee. It was a result of sitting on that committee that Voakes was driven to throw his name as a candidate for Council back in 2003.

He recalls, at that time, everything that committee brought forward to that Term of Essex Council was rejected. He said it was felt as though it couldn’t fit in the Town Budget at the time.

After he was elected to Essex Council, he said the arena eventually got its approval.

He sees the current state of the Essex Sports field similar to the timelines it took to get the Essex Center Sports Complex established, and he wants to make that a forefront issue this election.

He recalls when the Essex Center Sports Complex was still in talks that the majority of Essex residents wanted to see it built, as it is a sports town.

He would also like to see some additional attention brought to Heritage Gardens Park. It is currently hosting the pavilion, public washroom facility, the Veteran Honour Wall, and the Essex Memorial Spitfire Priscilla Monument.

“When you look in from the street, it’s barren land,” Voakes commented, adding he would very much like to see that developed like the waterfront in Amherstburg that has walkways, nice landscaping, nice seating, and garden areas. “It is a golden nugget waiting to shine.”

Voakes commented that everyone is concerned about taxes, and he doesn’t challenge them on that. He recognizes the cost of everything is high currently. He commented on the costs just to grab a few bags of groceries.

“Things are tough for people and that has to be recognized even out of the municipal level,” Voakes added. But, at the same time, he spoke about the importance of needing to develop and enhance the environment, which takes money.

Voakes said there has to be a follow-up strategy when it comes to Council initiatives to ensure approved projects come to fruition. In his experience, he commented there are times projects are approved, but fall off the priority list and are not completed.

“I am anxious to have the opportunity to have the opportunity to go back to work for the people of the Town of Essex,” Voakes said.