Jim Bender announces candidacy for mayor
Posted By HEATHER RIVERS, SENTINEL-REVIEW
Updated 8 months ago
Jim Bender announced Wednesday he will throw his hat into the ring for the race for mayor during the municipal election next October.
"People need to be taken care of again," he said. "Over the last three or four years, it has been pretty tough."
Bender is the third candidate to come forward stating intentions to run next year.
Last summer, Mayor Michael Harding said he would seek a third term in office, and Thames Valley District School Board trustee James Stewart said in December he will also campaign for the position.
Bender, 45, an import/exporter and owner of Lady Godiva's Adult Emporium, said, if elected, he would bring more accountability and transparency to the office of the mayor.
Bender said issues surrounding al leged transgressions regarding InfoEnergy Inc. -- a now defunct city-owned company -- are foremost on his list of reasons he's running for the top office.
"The community demands accountability," he said.
"I would implement some serious changes in the way (all of the city's) departments are operated."
Bender said he also is concerned about "environmental accountability" surrounding the city's green spaces such as Burgess Park/Standard Tube.
"I don't feel it's a done deal yet," he said. "There should never be an incursion on our green space."
Bender said he also wants to focus on issues surrounding the impoverished, including the establishment of a year-round shelter for the homeless and rising property taxes.
Bender has had plenty of experience with elections in the past.
He has run federally for both the Marijuana Party and as an independent, and was a candidate in the last municipal election.
hrivers@bowesnet.com
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