For most of my life, I have called Cumberland Ward - home. Growing-up in Queenswood Heights, I was fortunate to attend some of the finest schools in our city: Our Lady of Wisdom, St. Francis of Assissi and St. Peter’s. Our community had such a profound effect on me that I later became president of my high school alumni, which was followed by becoming President of the Queenswood Heights Community Community Association. When it came time to raise my family, Fallingbrook is where my wife, Marta, a rural Ontarian, and I chose to purchase our first home. I am blessed that my son, Stephen Jr., recently born at the Montfort, will also experience living in a wonderfully bilingual and diverse community. I am also thankful that Stephen Jr. will be able to spend his summers kicking a ball with the Cumberland United Soccer Association, or catching a football with the Cumberland Panthers followed by winters spent at the rink with the Barons.

The community spirit I acquired from my parents may be immeasurable but directly led to me to seeking a career in the public service. After graduating from the University of Ottawa, I began my professional career at Canada25, a policy think-tank committed to putting forward policy ideas to enrich our nation. This position led me to join the Privy Council Office. I have also been fortunate to work with Carleton University, where I was recognized with an employee recognition award and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Moreover, when Ontario Cabinet Minister Jim Watson asked me to join his staff, I immediately seized upon an opportunity to work with an elected official who was guided by helping those most in need. I believe this invaluable experience with Jim Watson helped me enter politics for the right reasons.

My election as the Orleans-Cumberland Catholic School Board Trustee began with my decision to not accept the unacceptable 150% trustee raise. To this end, I found it more important to donate this money to breast cancer awareness, the military resource centre, a school breakfast program and a bursuary for less affluent students. As a trustee, I am a proud of my record of balanced budgets, growing our reserve funds, investing in our most vulnerable students and bringing a greener approach to Board policies, where applicable. My desire for change at our Board sometimes pitted me against my colleagues, but it was imperative that I was elected to bring about change and not the tired status quo. When I sought to reduce the number of trustees at our board, it was done to ensure there was parity with our public board counterparts. My reason for not accepting the trustee raise was based on financial prudence and a steadfast belief that we need more committed individuals in politics and less career politicians.

Over the course of 2010, I am looking forward to hearing from residents about their opinions of what makes Ottawa a great city and what also currently ails progress for our future. I am also interested in sharing my ideas on what a city councillor should be doing to improve our community and our city. I am an advocate of change and am hoping to count on your support to bring about this much needed change at city hall - the status quo is hindering our city and financially hurting our families.