By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Ben Orlando says he is a family man, a husband and father of three children between the ages of nine and one. He lives on a farm with a variety of animals and livestock, has roots in the area, and is looking to be here for a long time.
This is the foundation upon which he’s standing as part of his election campaign, hoping to earn the Ward 2 – McGregor rep seat on Essex Council this election.
His experience living on the farm is what he said connects him to Ward 2 and some of the issues facing this area.
The main challenges in McGregor, he heard, include drainage and that there was supposed to be a splash pad added to the area that never came to fruition.
Bringing a splash pad to the area would be one of the priorities he would like to get done in the next Term of Council, as a father.
“I’d like to bring forward those kinds of issues, being as I have children and I do live on a farm. Those are kind of two of the things that are pretty near to my heart,” Orlando said. “I think the entirety of my platform is just bringing [forward] the issues of the people. I think I can represent them in a positive manner.”
In conjunction with drainage, Orlando would like to concentrate on services, such as water. He also knows there has been a lot of conversation about energy and electricity recently, because of a fair number of power outages. He would focus on these types of services to accommodate responsible growth, while still keeping that small-town feel.
In terms of growth, Orlando believes there has to be a good balance.
He would suggest some residential with a little bit of industrial. It is important to him not to start breaking up what the town is currently.
Orlando said it is important to host fundraising to complete projects, such as splash pads. He noted that there are also grants the Town can go after. That’s a big part of his platform, because he does have a background being a general manager. He said he has the skill set to look into those types of grants and bring them to the Ward.
He also believes he would have a strong voice for the people.
Often, he said it is heard from others that there’s nothing that can be done, or what could be done, about municipal issues, “and I thought, ‘hey, there is something I can do. I can run.’”
Orlando works in Essex Center as a General Manager, and said he has been out in the general area basically his whole life. He played hockey locally, and also played baseball for the Harrow Blues when he was 18.
He believes he could pull on his work experience to bring people together, and understands how to do that.
He said he has had a fair amount of experience in putting together community events and having those types of ties to the community.
He would also lean on his hard work and ethics to conduct the proper research, alongside bringing the issues of the Ward forward at Council.
Being part of the democratic process is something Orlando is glad to be a part of.
“I’m really excited, and I hope I see people out on the campaign trail,” he said.
He said he is for the people and wants to raise the issues of Ward 2 at Council.