Former town councilor is candidate for mayor
Bill Culver is one of six candidates hoping to wear the chain of office as mayor of Norfolk County following the municipal election this fall.
Culver served on the Town of Simcoe council from 1988 to 2000 prior to the formation of Norfolk County.
A realtor for 37 years, he and his wife Bonnie are co-owners of Royal LePage Trius Realty with offices in Simcoe and Port Dover.
“This is a lifelong home for me,” Culver said of Norfolk County. “I was born in Woodhouse, moved to Simcoe and now we own a farm out by Walsh.”
He added that with his businesses and investment properties here, there is a lot at stake.
“I’ve watched over the last four years the county doesn’t seem to be in sync with the community.”
Culver cited, as an example, getting phone calls from people who can’t get a call back from county councilors when they can’t get a building permit.
“There’s a lot of good people who work for this county and take pride in it,” he observed. “That seems to have gotten lost. I don’t know who created that (atmosphere), if it’s middle or upper management, but that starts at the top.”
Culver said he can bring leadership to the table, so everyone knows their job, works together, and tries to minimize costs to the taxpayer, yet provide what the taxpayers require.
“I respect consensus and I don’t work in isolation,” he explained. “I think I bring common sense to the table. That seems to be lacking.”
The mayoral candidate said the water problem in Port Dover and Simcoe needs a solution because it’s holding up development.
One option for consideration, he said, is to connect to an existing pipeline from Lake Erie to Townsend and Hamilton.
“When you have people knocking on your door to do stuff in your community, you want to be street-ready for them,” he said. “Developers are being put on hold and that resonates all throughout the province.”
Tax hikes are another issue that weighs on Culver’s mind.
“They’re talking about an almost 10 per cent tax increase. Right now, we’re all faced with the rising cost of food and gas. I think it’s important to control those costs.”
For those skeptical of realtors striving for public office, Culver has a straightforward mindset on the matter.
“If you think you’ve got a conflict, you probably do,” he said. “It might be perceived or real, but you stay out of it.
“You’re not in there to line your pockets, but to serve your community. I won’t let it be a problem.”
Also in contention for the mayoralty is Zvonko Horvat, former Norfolk OPP detachment commander who now serves a police chief in the town of Aylmer; current mayor Kristal Chopp; councilors Amy Martin (Ward 6) and Ian Rabbitts (Ward 5); and Simcoe businessman David Bate.