Five candidates are vying for a position in London’s Ward 10, where aging infrastructure, traffic jams, and public safety top the list of voter concerns.
Among them are four contenders-Steven Edwards, Juman Al-Jumaili, Alex Moore, and Lois Ward-who aim to unseat longtime Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen, who has served a total of four non-consecutive terms for the ward.
Ward 10 includes parts of Bostwick, Cranbrook, and Westmount neighborhoods in the city, with its boundaries remaining mostly unchanged after the recent review.
Voters will head to the polls on October 26.
Ward 10 incumbent Paul Van Meerbergen (City of London)
Paul Van Meerbergen
Paul Van Meerbergen has previously represented Ward 7 from 2003 until 2006 and then Ward 10 from 2006 until 2014. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022.
According to Van Meerbergen, traffic congestion remains a significant issue that he describes as “quite intense.” Wonderland Road cuts through the ward and is one of the busiest roads in the city. Ongoing construction on Commissioners and Southdale roads has been an ongoing hurdle.
“Bostwick (Road) is supposed to start in 2028 to go to four lanes … but Wonderland is stuck in this kind of abyss,” he said. Van Meerbergen has consistently advocated for widening Wonderland Road to six lanes and stated that he will keep pushing for it if elected for a third term.
While city officials had been considering this project idea, council voted against continuing with an environmental assessment back in 2021 after reviewing it through a climate change lens; staff noted that widening might just create more demand.
Last year, council instructed staff to revisit the process by expanding its scope from Southdale to Fanshawe Park roads. They’re now looking at six general-purpose lanes along with long-term options for bus rapid transit development.
“There’s an enormous body of thought that thinks Wonderland congestion can be solved by bike lanes and buses. That’s simply not the case,” said Van Meerbergen, who voted against halting the environmental assessment in 2021. “It’s well overdue…It’s about having political willpower to push ahead with this.”
Though he’s frustrated with how slowly progress on traffic issues is moving forward, he feels positive about what’s being done regarding affordable housing and crime reduction efforts like decreasing development charges while increasing police budgets.
Additionally, he plans on advocating for banning e-scooters from London roads as well.
“You see who’s riding on them. It’s kids without helmets. We can all sit here saying we have bylaws preventing that but they aren’t really enforced.”
The city’s e-scooter bylaw prohibits anyone under age sixteen from riding them. Van Meerbergen wasn’t among those who supported extending London’s involvement in Ontario’s e-scooter pilot program last May.
Ward 10 candidate Steven Edwards (Steven Edwards)
Steven Edwards
For Steven Edwards-a small security consulting firm owner whose grandfather was a police officer-public safety was a major reason he decided to run this election cycle.
As a father of three children himself , he says his years spent working within privatized law enforcement helped him understand how important security issues are. Now , he assists local businesses improve their safety measures , teaching them how best handle anti-social behaviour along with challenges posed by homelessness crisis currently affecting cities across Canada.
“Being involved directly makes me aware of some unfortunate realities,” he shared.“We live here which means we should feel secure; however it’s disappointing because nothing seems immune anymore.”
That concern extends even further when reflecting upon lackadaisical responses received thus far regarding sidewalk repairs near his home-going nearly three years since someone spray-painted it orange without any action taken whatsoever!
“I’ve raised this matter multiple times at City Hall alongside fellow neighbours,” explained Edwards. “Bringing these problems forth only seems met indifferently.. that prompted my decision (to run). Instead making mere complaints I want power actually effect real change!”
Traffic snarls caused by excessive construction throughout town remain top priorities expressed regularly by voters across every area-even ones familiar faced head-on here within Ward Ten specifically known well due ongoing frustrations tied up together! P >WATCH | Young Londoners share thoughts about what they’d do if they became mayor:
You answered: What would you do as next mayor Of london ? p >Just twelve individuals seeking mayoral position during municipal elections happening soon-but doesn’t mean residents shouldn’t dream big either ! CBC’S Kendra Seguin asked young people envision themselves being elected once voting day arrives October Twenty-Sixth while sharing first orders business ideas too.
Regarding construction woes , Edwards mentioned needing full audit conducted over contracts awarded locally plus enhanced transparency surrounding costs involved delays encountered along way.
“What often hear knocking doors asking why information related project delays isn’t clear enough? Why another half million dollars pulled taxpayer funds? People shouldn’t need fight obtain such details,” stressed him vehemently.
”When hiring contractors fixing house-you wouldn’t expect them starting elsewhere before coming back YOURS right?” EDWARDS ADDED AS WELL !
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Londons ward ten Candidate Juman al-jumaili( juman al-jumaili )
JUMAN AL-JUMAILI
JUMAN AL-JUMAILI BELIEVES SHE CAN BRING SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO LONDON BY UTILIZING HER EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHTS GAINED OVER YEARS LIVING HERE THROUGHOUT CHANGES TAKEN PLACE DURING LAST DECADE ; HER VIEWPOINT IS THAT RESOURCES AVAILABLE MAY BE BETTER MANAGED WITHIN CITY ADMINISTRATION LEVELS TOO.
‘Having grown up here she knows firsthand many transformations occurring locally-it’s not about lacking assets so much rather than harnessing strategies effectively!” She emphasized proudly speaking about professional growth achieved including completing her studies focused towards local governance work & holding positions supporting vulnerable populations like newcomers/new Canadians worked @ CROSS CULTURAL LEARNER CENTRE aiding youth facing difficulties overcoming challenges presented life circumstances.’
BR >
THE SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE GAP NOW FACING CITY HAS BEEN FORECASTED BY STAFF REACH OR EXCEED $1 BILLION WITHIN NEXT EIGHT YEARS WHICH DIRECTLY LINKED PROPERTY TAX INCREASES CURRENTLY IMPACTING RESIDENTS MOST HARSHLY”‘
•{COUNT}”BLANKO”#&8”DIFFERENCES AMONGST CITIZENS BUT IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS NEED HOLD REGARDING ADDRESSING PROBLEMS SURROUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY HOUSINGS ISSUES PLUS MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS IMPLIES RELY ON CLOSURE BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS WITHOUT AVOIDANCE DIALOGUE DISCUSSIONS”;””’DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM”.’‘ ”;
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