St. Catharines Ward 5 candidates outline priorities ahead of municipal election
Candidates in the mostly residential Grantham ward say aging roads, flooding and affordable housing are top concerns.
ST. CATHARINES — Five candidates are vying for two council seats in St. Catharines’ Ward 5, with challengers taking on two incumbents who have each served for over two decades.
Incumbent councillors Dawn Dodge and Bill Phillips face kindergarten teacher Spencer Bellows-DeWolfe, project manager Dunsin Fakorede and Emmanuel Oneka in the Oct. 26 municipal election.
Candidates who responded to a CBC Niagara survey say infrastructure, road conditions, traffic safety and affordable housing are priorities for the mostly residential Grantham ward.
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"As an educator in their 30s, I'm used to working with different people, finding solutions, managing limited resources and making decisions that put the needs of others first while effectively doing my job," Bellows-DeWolfe told CBC Niagara.
The 34-year-old teacher said his other priorities include everyday municipal services and homelessness.
He said the most urgent issues are aging infrastructure and roads, and proposed shifting from emergency cold-patches to infrared or thermal hot-mix repairs on major corridors.
Bellows-DeWolfe also said he used AI to assist his research on the city's budget and repair cost approaches.
Dawn Dodge, 67, a retired operations clerk, said she would prioritize direct services and fixing infrastructure before "secondary expenditures."
"Residents’ homes come first and we need to make this the priority," Dodge told CBC Niagara. "We need to ensure that builders are accountable and are placing the proper development infrastructure, not just for today but for the future."
She said the primary challenge is rebuilding failing infrastructure, and called for more affordable housing and resources for vulnerable residents.
Dodge also said the city should identify sources of excess stormwater entering the system, whether from design faults or illegal hookups, and prosecute transgressors.
Dunsin Fakorede, 35, a project manager, said he would not support cutting essential services or delaying critical infrastructure for short-term savings.
"The focus should be on spending responsibly while protecting the services residents depend on," Fakorede told CBC Niagara.
He said residents' biggest concerns are flooding, road conditions, traffic safety, sidewalks, snow clearing and neighbourhood infrastructure.
"Affordability is also a concern for families, seniors and renters," Fakorede said.
He said another frequent issue is communication, with residents wanting to know about neighbourhood projects and how tax dollars are spent.
Fakorede said he would advocate for areas with flooding, poor roads and safety concerns to get attention during budget planning, and provide regular updates to residents.
CBC Niagara made several attempts to reach candidate Emmanuel Oneka for a response about his experience and campaign, but did not hear back.
The ward covers the northeast part of St. Catharines between Scott and Geneva streets, including Port Weller, the north part of the Welland Canal and the east-half of the north end.
With files from CBC News