Rural representation an issue in Osgoode ward debate

George Darouzedefended his voting record on council, including on the contentious stormwatermanagement fee, as he faced off against his four challengers Thursday night at the Osgoode arena.

Darouze is seeking a second term as councillor for therural ward that also includes the villages of Greely and Metcalfe.

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He said he wasproud of the millions of dollars in roadwork done in the wardand said he had fulfilled his promises from the 2014 election.

But Darouze found himself being asked more than once how he defendsOsgoode'sinterests at city hall, when he voted for astormwaterfee many residents despise and also almost alwaysvotes on the same side as the mayor.

Darouzeexplained the fee goes toward culverts and roads that his residents use.

"I was not elected to go fight and be the opposition. I was elected to get stuff done in my community," he said, noting a councillor has to work with colleagues from urban and suburban areas in a big city.

Five choices

JayTysickpromised to do what's best forOsgooderesidentsand tackle what he sees asfrivolous spending at city hall downtown.

This is his second election campaign this year he ranin the riding ofCarleton under the Ontario Party banner in the Ontario electionafterseeking the Progressive Conservativenomination.

Tysick said he disagreed with Patrick Brown's leadershipand fought against the cap-and-trade systemandthe 2015sexual educationcurriculum, so he's pleased with developments at Queen's Park.

"Everything I wanted to see happen, I gotAnd now I'm going to take that success to city hall,"Tysicksaid.

He has worked for Coun. Rick Chiarelli and formertelevision channelthe NewRO.

He has three children and lives just outside the ward, but said a candidate's ideas are more important than his or herpostal code.

Rural champions and university student round out ballot

MarkScharfeand KimSheldrick both have deep family roots in the areaand both ran againstDarouzein 2014 in a 11-way race to replace longtime councillor Doug Thompson.

Scharfe has railed against the green bin program in the past.

Hisbig bugaboo this election is thestorm waterfee.

Sheldrick, who shared a long list of community organizations for which she has volunteered, pitched herself as wanting to help the "humans" of Osgoodeward.

For instance, she would look to help seniors stay in their homes and preserve their rural way of life.

Of the five people running, only 23-year-old Auguste Banfalvi has never campaigned beforeand cheerfully presented himselfto votersas "the nave university student who does hands-on work."

Policing, hydro

The fifty or so people at the debate were encouraged to write their questions on a piece of paper when they entered.

One asked why so few police are assigned to the rural south.

Another asked what could be done about Ottawa residents who still receive their electricity fromHydro One rather than Hydro Ottawa.

And while the debate touched on perennial rural topics, Jennifer Andrews said a debate like Thursday's can miss some topics that are relevant to people in the ward, such as clogged roads, children's programs and environmental issues.

"Greely and Osgoode [have a lot of]young families, but they don't come to these things.They don't have time," she said.