Candidate for Osgoode ward steps up
Posted Feb 26, 2010 By Charelle Evelyn
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Tweet ThisEMC News A Ramsayville resident who says he can no longer find middle ground with the incumbent councillor has decided to throw his hat into the ring for the 2010 municipal election.
Mark Scharfe, current chair of the Ramsayville Community Association, is the first registered candidate for councillor of Osgoode ward. The municipal election takes place Oct. 25.
Mr. Scharfe, 50, is a 28-year veteran of the Ottawa Police Force, a captain of the Neighbourhood Watch and runs a beef cow and calf operation. Married with three sons, Mr. Scharfe's family has been farming in the area for almost 100 years.
Following a dispute over the handling of bylaw zoning regulations relating to Orgaworld, the green bin waste site, Mr. Scharfe and members of his community decided to make a significant effort to unseat Coun. Doug Thompson.
"I've always supported our current councillor, but we're so far apart of issues now that there's no hope of meeting in the middle," explained Mr. Scharfe. "You can either complain about the way things are done or take the initiative to fix it."
Although he won't be releasing his platform until late August, there are a few things that Mr. Scharfe has been vocal about.
Along with being a staunch opponent to the new green bin program, Mr. Scharfe is also not in support of the city's recently-approved $2.1 billion electric light rail transit system.
"I think it's a multi-million dollar waste of money," he stated.
Along with having to carry the city's cost of building the system, taxpayers will also be burdened with the provincial cost of running double the nuclear plants necessary to power the electric system, said Mr. Scharfe.
His experience with the police has ingrained the idea of always looking out for the unforeseen and making decisions accordingly. For example, he said, what happens if there is a problem with the nuclear plants and the city has committed the municipality to electric transit?
Despite his other commitments, Mr. Scharfe said he has made a point to continue farming so that he never loses contact with "the realities of how difficult it is for some folks to make a living."
Despite a spending limit of $18,000, Mr. Scharfe is not interested in corporate donations for his campaign, as he does not want to be indebted to anybody except his constituents.
"I've taken these views, not because they're all personal, but because I get out into the community and have discussed things with folks," he explained.
"I represent the majority of people's interests, no matter what they are."
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