WARD 1
Hamilton born, Hamilton made - a representative who will be the voice of Ward 1 constituents.
This year, cast a vote for yourself, and vote for:
Mark PowellAnswering the Call
An open, transparent representative
Mark Powell is dedicated to maintaining an open door policy at his Ward 1 office, and will disclose any details of future “in-camera” meetings held at city hall.
The citizens of Hamilton are not children; keeping secrets and holding private meetings does not protect or empower them.
Mark will be your eyes and ears at City Hall; just as it is meant to be.
The Powell PlanA simple platform guided by Hamilton's needsWard 1: Back to BasicsWard 1 HousingEstablish additional City Housing within Ward 1
Prioritize and expedite development of high density rental housing
Identify derelict, abandoned, or long unused property within Ward 1 for immediate expropriation and redevelopment
Investigate rezoning large scale industrial sites for the expansion of available residential land in Ward 1
Propose Ward-based City Housing Program for current residents and employees in Ward 1
Ward 1 Parks and RecreationChedoke Golf Course: Mark will not allow the partitioning or re-purposing of the two distinct courses at Chedoke, only refurbishment and enhancements that do not undermine the existing facilities.
Committed to the enhancement, refurbishment, and preservation of all green spaces in Ward 1
Ward 1 RetrospectiveFull disclosure on past expenses
Full disclosure on sources of data and consultations regarding Ward 1 initiatives
Full disclosure of any and all lobbying with a direct connection or implication for Ward 1
Ward 1 RoadworksFocus on resurfacing roads immediately, no more waiting for future projects
Remove bus lane and “bump-outs” on the south side of Aberdeen
Cease “experiments” until all major resurfacing projects and infrastructure updates have completed
Establish routine maintenance plan – no more decade old potholes and obstacles
Actively consult residents and produce site specific studies for all future traffic management projects in Ward 1
Ward 1 SafetyMark will seek to demolish any abandoned or derelict buildings that are not properly secured in an expedited fashion
Mark will seek a review of the current policy on open drug use in our streets and parks, in the interest of health and safety of all residents, housed and unhoused
Ward 1: What else?Mark wants to hear from YOU!
Feel free to make suggestions on our contact form, and if enough constituents raise an issue, it will be added!
Citywide: Bringing back integrityYour RepresentativeCommitted to a fully open office, with expenditures reported to public directly from Ward 1 office regularly
If Mark knows, you know – no more private studies or lobbying
”In-camera” meetings and withholding information from public is not ethical
Past examples (Sewergate) demonstrate a risk to public health and safety through this practice
No AI Data CentresConstituents made it clear they opposed AI Data Centres
Known environmental risk is high, with only a few years of research
Clear issue which demonstrates a lack of foresight and integrity at City Hall
Mark will not split hairs - pre-existing or moderate, low impact scale data centres do exist - constituents are explicitly concerned with large scale projects at our bayfront
Housing CrisisPropose Ward-based Housing Program, piloted in Ward 1
Relocate “Tiny Home” project – costs ballooned because of a lack of oversight and responsibility at City Hall – the project was objectively successful despite that
Support re-purposing of former SJAM School or similar site into emergency housing shelter
Seek additional funding for maintenance of City Housing to meet property standards before expansion
TransitSupport immediate investment and revitalization of HSR; no more waiting for LRT
Seek reduction of fares, rather than steady inflation
Transit is not a burden, it is a service
Establish more routes to provide more comprehensive coverage, re-route or reduce frequency of redundant or low volume busses
Demand long term projections of maintenance costs of LRT system, proposed fares, times, and impact on bus services – there are too many mysteries for constituents.
Sunshine ListSeek immediate reduction of all salaries over $200,000
Freeze salaries over $150,000
Reduce portion of yearly budget – currently 16%
Establish salary cap at City Hall
Leave benefits alone – extreme salaries are what need to be addressed, not the benefits city staff receive
Review salary increases over the last two terms (eight years)
City - what else?Mark wants to hear from YOU!
Feel free to make suggestions on our contact form, and if enough constituents raise an issue, it will be added!
Why is Mark Running?
I am a lifelong resident of Ward 1, and I am intimately aware of the challenges facing our community and the goals our constituents have for our Ward.
I have spent the last six years engaging in political activism to continue the legacy of my late wife Regan Russell, and have been asked by family, friends, and neighbours to step up and speak for them.
I am answering that call as my experience the last six years has allowed me to see the “man behind the curtain” in the Land of Oz that is Canadian Politics - and I know that I am capable of bringing change to our municipal government and make my community proud.
With me comes my son, who alongside me and a legal team guided a successful challenge of Bill 156 which lead to amendments.
No other candidate offers an independent, successful intergenerational team of proven activists to bring Ward 1 forward into a new era.
