Re: “Mann: More lobbyist than candidate for mayor,” LTE Sept. 24
Dear editor,
A letter to the editor in last week's City View accuses me of being a “lobbyist” for business in Airdrie. This is because I believe outstanding service providers like Traxx should not only be allowed to freely compete for your business in Airdrie, but should be encouraged to do so. While the word 'lobbyist' is often loaded, I will assume the letter writer means it in only the nicest way. I am an advocate for business in Airdrie - and a positive business environment used to be part of what we call the ‘Airdrie Advantage.’
During this campaign I have been speaking to business owners and local consumers. I talk about the benefits to business of having me serve as mayor, should I be honored with that privilege. I talk about things like lower taxes, cutting red tape, and generally restoring respect and fairness for business in our great city. More business in Airdrie means more choice and a better quality of life for you and your family. In particular, it means more jobs: for you, your spouse or your children who should have every opportunity to develop their work ethic while going to school, without having to go all the way to Calgary, or worse, go without part time work opportunities. Some people worry about a ‘youth problem’ in our city. I happen to think the best recreation for our young people is a good part time job, just like I had while growing up in Airdrie. More jobs here in Airdrie, of course, means you save time and money commuting - something many people concerned about our environment also tell me they would like to see. But perhaps the biggest reason I talk every chance I get about how we can create a better environment here in Airdrie for companies, is because a bigger, more prosperous business base will keep your taxes low, and enable me, as your mayor, to push to reduce property taxes even further. Just having lower non-residential taxes than Calgary isn’t enough to attract sustainable jobs to Airdrie. We're also competing with Cochrane, Strathmore, Okotoks, High River — all but one of which have lower non-residential taxes (we barely beat Chestermere). We need to ensure that our city is run efficiently so that we can reduce our non-residential rates to attract more businesses to Airdrie. Lower taxes, greater consumer choice and quality of life work together to improve both your standard of living and your property values. These are the things I am committed to doing for you. Think about it: Don't you enjoy being able to go to, or order in from some of the really great restaurants now in town? All the choice in groceries, convenience stores and pharmacies? Even the coffee shops? Not to mention some of the medical and other professionals now located a few minutes from your front door? I want to see more such choice, don't you? I want businesses who have come here, and will come here, to be rewarded for making all our lives better. It may sound paradoxical, but I want to lower your property taxes by lowering theirs - which expands the tax base and enables rates to continue down. Even with the growth of our business community, too many businesses have left, gone bankrupt, or passed us by entirely, and too many commercial spaces sit empty. With your help I will work to reverse this trend. So am I an advocate for Airdrie business? Would I continue to be so as Mayor? The answer to both questions is absolutely. Ross Mann, Candidate for Mayor
