28-year-old theatre grad Aggie Mlynarz introduces her platform
Former Provincial NDP candidate Agnieszka (Aggie) Mlynarz officially kicked off her campaign for Mayor of Guelph this morning. Mlynarz holds a B.A. and M.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of Guelph.
“The Mayor’s chair is not generally regarded as a starter position,” said Mlynarz at a press conference following her registration. She explained that “sometimes when you are presented with an opportunity, you need to take it. Particularly if your politics are progressive.”
“We are now entering the largest new development cycle the city will see in decades,” Mlynarz began her statement. “We need to be vigilant, that a new vision of Guelph reflect the values that have come to give this city its unique character.”Mlynarz said her team plans to focus on the following issues:
- Stronger policies for water protection
- Meeting requirements for parkland dedication
- Affordable and accessible housing
- Development that considers the cost of urban sprawl
Prior to Mlynarz’s registration, incumbent Mayor Cam Guthrie was running unopposed in the Municipal Elections that will take place on Monday, Oct. 22.
Mlynarz said she was not expecting to declare her candidacy for Mayor six weeks ago, but “as the weeks ticked by with no opponent registering against Cam Guthrie” her mind was changed. “The lack of a mayoral race would have been a blow to our local democracy,” Mlynarz said. Ward 4 Candidate Peter Hamtak asked Mlynarz about her life experience versus that of Mayor Guthrie: “Cam Guthrie, for instance, he has a family with children, he’s got a mortgage to pay, he’s got some real life experience. How do you respond to that, that perhaps you do not have that background of life experience to guide you should you be elected?”
“Because I want a mortgage. Because I want a family. Because maybe I want children. And the future that is being presented to me right now… it’s very challenging to do so,” responded Mlynarz. “And I think that yes, experience is helpful, but motivation is also a powerful force and a powerful drive. And I think that that is a voice that needs to stand up in politics — locally, provincially, and federally, so we deserve this space too.”
The Ontarion asked Mlynarz what she would like to say to students at the University of Guelph.
“Please get involved locally. Students live here sometimes for eight months of the year, sometimes they live here all year around. They have a place in our economy, they have a place and a voice on campus,” said Mlynarz. “So it really does matter for them to figure out what ward they live in, to get out and vote, and to be involved and engaged locally in a platform that matters to them.”Residents can find out what ward they belong to by viewing a City of Guelph ward map or by inputting their street number and name on the City of Guelph’s website. The City of Guelph is divided into six wards, each ward has two councillors, meaning that the City Council is comprised of 12 councillors and the Mayor. Members of Council are elected by Guelph’s residents to a four-year term of office.
“Let’s not forget a lot of my friends are students from the University of Guelph and a lot of them are now citizens of Guelph and have lived here for more than five years,” said Mlynarz. “A lot of our future is in that group of intelligent, hardworking, young people.”
Following the press conference, The Ontarion spoke to Mlynarz’s campaign manager, Dennis (Zoey) Ross. (Disclosure: Ross has volunteered with The Ontarion in previous academic years.)
“I’m so proud to be a University of Guelph student and be a part of this endeavour and work with someone else who was a University of Guelph student,” said Ross. “This election is about student issues. Water is a student issue. Organizing in such a way for a progressive candidate is important in our society, whether at the municipal, provincial, or federal level.”
As for the coming weeks, Mlynarz’s team plans to focus on developing a vision and a strategy that will inform her platform by speaking to people in and around Guelph.
“A platform,” Mlynarz said, “that puts future generations at the heart of its principles. Guelph will thrive when we plant trees whose shade we may never enjoy, but others will.”
Whether Mlynarz will make Guelph an ‘aggie’ town for yet another reason remains to be seen.
Feature photo by Mirali Almaula/The Ontarion
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