Another local resident has thrown their hat into the ring for the upcoming municipal election to be the mayor of Chatham-Kent.
William Pickard of Thamesville filed his nomination papers last week to run for the mayor’s seat in the October election.
The 72-year-old lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent said he wants to see the municipality prosper and accused current and past terms of council of not following through with their promises.
“I just haven’t been happy with what Chatham-Kent has permitted to happen over the years to the small towns,” said Pickard. “They’ve been neglected, they’ve been drained of services rather than given services. And the greater efficiency they promised certainly isn’t efficient.”
Pickard said he feels as though council focuses their efforts too heavily on the town of Chatham, and the smaller communities, such as Thamesville, Blenheim and Ridgetown, have been ignored.
“Chatham is a little empire on its own and we’re the little fiefdoms feeding Chatham at our expense. Everything is Chatham, Chatham, Chatham. The small towns have been bled,” he said. “This is supposed to be Chatham-Kent, not Chatham.”
Pickard, who is currently semi-retired, runs a small bookkeeping business out of his home and works seasonally at H&R Block as a tax preparer. He also had a two-decade-long career in the furniture business.
The Thamesville native said he is currently ironing out his election platform, which he will unveil closer to the election.
Current Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff has also filed his nomination papers to seek a second term. As well, Chatham-Kent resident Andy Fisher added his name to the ballot earlier this month.
The nomination deadline for the 2022 municipal election is August 19 with election day scheduled for October 24.
