Featured Candidate | JUSTIN ALTMANN | Mayor, Whitchurch Stouffville

Justin Altmann

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JUSTIN ALTMANN, MAYOR

As your Whitchurch-Stouffville mayoral Candidate I make no false or unrealistic promises. I deal in truth and open government and will treat the office of Mayor with respect and integrity.

In the near future we would like to see created a multi-faceted facility that would accommodate our youth, adult and senior citizens in activities such as sports, exhibitions, arts and culture and other venues which can be centrally located.  This all encompassing facility would eliminate purchasing additional lands to house separate functions as well would share staff costs and encourage families to share their needs under one roof.

The issues to tackle this term would be to expand and develop on recreation and leisure services efficiently and effectively for all ages and abilities. It is also of the utmost importance to have tough fiscal responsibility, personal accountability, and to use common sense and listen to fellow residents before consulting expensive out of town firms. Millions of dollars have been and will continue to be spent on the redevelopment of  the new town hall, Memorial Park, and the uncompleted creation of Bethesda Park. Such projects have taken place with little public input and have continually been over budget millions of dollars, this is not fiscally responsible. The biggest issue is simply communication, communication, communication! One may just have to leave the office or park bench and go door to door or to where the people really spend their time. It is imperative as your representative to take public opinion, ask questions, listen to concerns and interact with our citizens and not just the developers.

First and fore most we must curb indebtedness and create a financial plan with both long and short-term goals, bearing in mind, that it is not an overnight remedy but an ongoing process.

With your input into the future of Whitchurch-Stouffville, we will go forward with the same vision.

PLATFORM

1) COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS & COLABARATION

2) EXPAND & DEVELOP ON RECREATION & LEISURE SERVICES FOR ALL AGES & ABBILITIES

3) TOUGH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

4) TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVISM - If it’s NOT broken, don’t fix it.

5) TRADITIONAL LIBERALISIM - If it IS broken, fix it.

6) PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY & ACCESIBILITY

7)  CLEAR & WELL DOCUMENTED FIIANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

As a long time resident of Whitchurch-Stouffville I graduated both from Orchard Park Public School and Stouffville District Secondary School, with Grade 13 OAC advanced studies. In 2004 I returned home with having completed 2 years of a Bachelor of Science - Animal Sciences and graduating with a Associate Diploma of Agriculture. A firm and
concrete understanding with a high level of education has been established in the areas of:

* COMMUNICATION SKILLS
* RURAL SOCIETY & AGRICULTURE
* HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
* LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
* BUSINESS FINANCE
* MARKETING & POLICY
* BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
* BUSINESS ACCOUNTING
* SOIL PRINCIPALS
* HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES
* CHEMICALS & ENVIRONMENT
* LAND & WATER STEWARDSHIP
* URBAN PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE
* BIOLOGY
* CHEMISTRY & PHYSICS
* ANIMAL HEALTH
* FOOD SYSTEMS
* COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
* PORK & POULTRY PRODUCTION
* FRUIT PRODUCTION
* LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

COMMUNITY & INVOLVEMENT

* Past - 4-H member & Leader
* Present - Peoples Parade Chairman
* Present - Santa Claus Parade Committee
* Community Charity Petting Zoo
* Present - Kinsmen member & past president
* Present - Markham Fair committee member
* Present - Strawberry Festival Committee member
* 2006 Candidate for Ward 2
* Present - Livestock Valuator for Whitchurch-Stouffville
* Past - Oak-Ridges-Markham Provincial & Federal Riding Association
* Past - Constituency Assistant to Member of Provincial Parliament Peter Shurman of Thornhill, Markham & Vaughan

WORK EXPERIENCE

All of these skills have created the entrepreneur in me to become an established and self employed broker that specifically caters to the niche markets of Whitchurch-Stouffville and the surrounding area in the sales of agricultural commodities.

Retail Sales/Marketing

• Excellent analytical skills of current and developing market trends with extensive background in niche agricultural sales
• Developed and created community outreach programs to gain, maintain and grow sales for commodities by establishing niche markets catering to ethnic holidays and religious lifestyles
• Above average product knowledge supported by creating additional marketing tools to increase sales exceeding sales target and demand
• Superior customer and client relations by listening effectively, helping clients identify products that best suit their needs and suggesting additional items to increase sales
• Designed and canvassed literature, signage, coupons, mass mailings, buttons, magnets, T-shirts and assisted with press reviews with the local media

Office Administration

• Political secretarial experience and the first point of contact for Ontario constituents
• Answered phone calls, letters, e-mails and held in and out of office meetings with constituents and agencies in a fast-paced environment with an above average service time
• Responsible for bookkeeping, typing, faxing, operation of telephones, filing, supply inventory and general procedures
• Performed administrative tasks for the day-to-day farm operations including marketing, facility use, maintenance, rental, revenue deposits and associated cost.
• Directed and managed the business capital; and planned the strategic direction of the business
• Managing the finical aspects of the business by controlling income and expenses
• Plan the type of business activities to be undertaken, estimate operating costs and order supplies

Customer Service

• Performed a large amount of research and liaised with Queen's Park Ministry officials on provincial legislation and policies with a range of agencies
• Collected, maintained and documented all pertinent information on database for constituent enquiries and advocacy
• Communicated information appropriately, offering solutions, networking with organizations and informed constituents, staff and the Provincial Member of key issues
• Maintain communication with animal producers, welfare organizations, government, industry, general public, transporters and veterinarians
• Volunteered, sponsored and hosted political and agricultural campaigns, parties and fundraisers