For Gregg McCart, it’s all about dreaming big.
Last week the life-long St. Thomas resident filed his nomination papers to challenge incumbent mayor Joe Preston in the Oct. 24 municipal vote.
Since then it has become a three-way race with former mayor Heather Jackson declaring her intent to run on Friday, the closing day for nominations.
McCart admits it’s a daunting task trying to unseat a high-profile incumbent. However, he feels he may have an advantage in one area, that being dealing with homelessness in the city.
McCart, running in his first campaign, says it is all about dreaming big.
He adds, Preston is aware of the issues, “but I never once heard a solution coming out of him.”
An advocate for the homeless, McCart has volunteered and, for a time, worked at the city’s homeless shelter The Inn. He recounts an incident that prompted him to assist rather than complain.
McCart adds he would like to bring people and organizations together in order to solve some very complicated problems associated with homelessness. Like the lack of affordable housing options in the city.
He cites examples of potential tenants forced into bidding wars in an effort to obtain a rental apartment.
When asked about running for mayor instead of contesting for a councillor position, McCart stressed it’s about dreaming big.
What is needed, concludes McCart is better coordination amongst the various groups and social service agencies in the city.
Written by Ian McCallum
