By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
For Ward 4 – Harrow candidate, Rachael Mills, the call to be more connected to the community came into focus during the beginning of the COVID shutdown.
Mills said she is a neighbour, and didn’t really gear up her whole life to be “politician.”
“I did decide, though, I could do more for my community and I wanted to contribute. I would be honoured to show up with our voices and the energy, effort, and care this role needs to be a really successful Councillor and a person people can trust and come to.”
Heading into this campaign, she is offering a platform of three commitments: care, community, and accountability.
To her, care is of this place, people, local businesses, infrastructure, and spaces and services depended on every day. She wants to advocate that they are invested in and maintained.
Since moving to Harrow, Mills was driven by things she has heard, which included flood mitigation. She wants to focus on what residents, Council, developers, and upper levels of government can do together to help.
She also wants to ensure long-term, sustainable decisions are made, leverage appropriate upper level government funding and support, and also ensure residents, businesses, and local partners have their voices at the table. She would also like to see intentional management plans for natural areas and natural infrastructure.
In terms of community, Mills said it is important to have growth that reflects”who we are and the community we want to live in.”
She would focus on appropriate industrial growth to support the tax base in the areas that are well suited for it, exploring commercial space in higher density and mixed use development, and – most importantly to her – provide a range of housing options grounded in responsible land use planning and zoning. That can help ensure neighbours can come to the area, or stay rooted there, as their needs evolve.
In terms of the third pillar of her campaign, Mills said accountability is about being committed to showing up as a Councillor asking questions, working collaboratively, finding passionate and sustainable solutions, and being open and responsible with the stewardship of public funds and spaces that residents can count on.
“I am not afraid to evolve with new information. I am not afraid to be approached with new information or a new perspective. I am committed to grounding my vote in evidence, diverse community input, and really the long-term well-being of both Harrow and the Town of Essex.”
She said she has diverse experience in healthcare, customer service, and connecting people to opportunities through the recruitment role she currently has with Canadian Tire.
Through these experiences, and the skills she’s gained from them, “I really do believe I can bring a grounded, people-first perspective to the decisions that are really important, because they shape our everyday lives and our shared future.”
She has connected to Harrow more deeply through a lot of volunteering since moving to the area. One of the opportunities that brings her the most pride is being involved with the Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce.
“That’s been an excellent opportunity to really connect with people and get a little bit more behind the scenes of what drives our community.”
She has also spent time engaging with Council and meeting agendas.
She and her partner, Greg, recognize Harrow as a gem and see how much it has to offer residents, businesses, and visitors.