By Angelica Ingram

Published Aug. 14 2018

Former municipal councillor Steven Kauffeldt is looking to reclaim his Ward 1 seat in Highlands East.
Kauffeldt who was a councillor from 2010 to 2014 is running for the position because it offers him a creative outlet to learn and solve problems and help the people in his community he said.

Born and raised in Bancroft Kauffeldt left the area for a while and moved back to Cardiff with his wife to raise his family.

“Cardiff offered affordable housing and a peaceful place to raise the girls” he said.

If elected he would like to see priorities such as affordable housing and attracting young professionals to the area as issues council focuses on.

“The balance between services and costs is getting trickier each year housing in Highland East is a priority for me” he said. “We need to find better ways to keep people in their homes while creating more affordable housing stock – both rental and owned. Also attracting young professionals to the area with better high speed internet would be helpful as young people can buy homes and create small businesses that will help us grow.”

He also believes future growth is something the municipality should be prepared for.

“I believe that with the completion of the 407 highway south of Peterborough in the coming year or so that we will see housing prices skyrocket in Peterborough North Kawartha and then into Highlands East and even Bancroft as people push out of the city looking for affordable places to live.”

New to the political scene is Jane Russell who is running to be councillor of Ward 2.

Russell who moved to the area nearly two years ago is running for council because she has always had an interest in politics and believes it’s important to be active in your community.

“My father was a municipal councillor in Clearwater Township” she told the paper.

From the Wasaga Beach area Russell lives in Harcourt and has a partner named Bill Elliott and a daughter. She studied politics and psychology at Trent University and works at the Algonquin Diner in Wilberforce.

If elected she would like to prioritize getting more work for area residents.

“It’s a real issue” she said.

She would also like to see that the local schools remain open in the community.

Mayor: Dave Burton Cheryl Ellis
Councillor Ward 1: Steven Kauffeldt Cam McKenzie
Councillor Ward 2: Suzanne Partridge Jane Russell
Councillor Ward 3: Cec Ryall (acclaimed)
Councillor Ward 4: James Deterling Peter Fredricks Bradley Keller Ruth Strong.
Go to haliburtonecho.ca to read previous stories about candidates in Highlands East.