Mertens wants a local government as strong as the people it represents

Wellington ward councillor Peter Mertens will be on the ballot once again this fall – this time vying for mayor.
Mertens filed his nomination papers today at Shire Hall and announced his plans to run for mayor to a crowd of supporters gathered around the steps at  Wellington Town Hall.
“My name is Peter Mertens and I would like to by your mayor,” Mertens told the crowd. “In this wonderful place, we have both challenges and opportunities. I hope in my term as mayor that we can tackle our challenges together… an in particular, give our young people a compelling reason to live and raise their families here.

Peter Mertens addresses supporters from the steps of the Wellington Town Hall. Amber Martin photo

To do this, we must do a better job of making local government more open, understandable and responsive to you the people we serve. We must, however, never lose sight of the fact that our life here in the County is a remarkable gift.  I vow to protect the things that make this community special.”
Mertens said he wants “a local government as strong as the people it represents”. His platform, he noted, will be based on responsive local government, encouragement of the entrepreneurial spirit and his unique set of skills and experience, used to oversee the $100 million organization Prince Edward County has become.
Mertens has served on numerous boards and committees in his term as Wellington Ward councillor, including as vice-chair for two years and chair for another two years of the Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services, overseeing a budget of $44 million annually.
Mertens also served as vice-chairman of the Corporate Services and Finance Committee and is the founding and present chairman of the municipal audit committee.
For more, visit his campaign web site at http://Mertens4Mayor.com