Three new Windsor city councillors to be sworn in for new term
The work begins Tuesday for three new Windsor city councillors who won tight election-night races to represent their wards around the council table.
All of council will be sworn in Tuesday evening in a special inaugural meeting of council at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor.
It’s a night that has been a long time coming for Angelo Marignani.
“Just after the election, there was a sudden realization that I'm here to serve these people and there's a lot of people and I just want to do the best job possible,” said Marignani, who put his name forward six times to represent the east Windsor riding of Ward 7.
Now elected, Marignani wants to prioritize spending on current assets like roads, sewers, parks and beaches but also improving city services and focusing on the basics.
“The things that we are truly responsible for as a city council is where I'm going to put my attention to really improve the little things,” he said.
Fellow newcomer Mark McKenzie narrowly edged out a big field in Ward 4 on election night.
“There are two things that I wanted to do when I grew up one was be on the radio and the other one was to be involved with politics, no joke,” said McKenzie, who has been a long-time resident in south Walkerville.
The long-time broadcaster and current real estate agent is ready to commit as a full-time councillor, running on a platform of improving neighbourhoods through community safety initiatives and making sure people can afford to live in a growing city.
“So that's what I'm going to do. You know, I'm not looking at cutting jobs or cutting services. Right. I think that should be a last resort,” McKenzie said of tough decisions that lie ahead on budget night. “But I am about keeping taxes low for individuals with inflation at an all time high. People can't afford a tax increase.“
Downtown Windsor also has a new voice around the table, but no stranger to the core.
“I'm excited to get to work. I got a lot of great ideas for downtown and I want to see things happen down here and I'm pumped,” said Renaldo Agostino, a small-business owner and longtime community booster.
He admits budget time will be his first learning curve but a challenge he’s ready to tackle.
“I know what it means to to watch every penny but I also know what it means. When you gotta you know you got to spend money to make money,” Agostino said.
Other core issues like homelessness and crime are issues Agostino wants to address at their roots, with a goal of making downtown Windsor a top-tier place to live, work and play.
“It's this mesh of residential and entertainment and excitement and vibrancy,” Agostino said. “I see it as clear as day and I don't see it that far down the road.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.