I’m a 42-year-old married father of two girls, born and raised in Chatham-Kent. Last time I ran for mayor in 2003, I placed second. This time I’m running to win.
I have been a small business owner for 20 years, specializing in photography, photofinishing, web design, software programming, and even piano tuning. I know what it takes to achieve big results on a limited budget!
I spent 17 years as a professional organist and choir director. For 5 years, I’ve taught one of the most popular Continuing Education courses at St. Clair College in digital photography. I am a Certified Broadcast Technologist, and member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.
I hold an Advanced Amateur Radio Licence, and am appointed as a leadership official with Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Chatham-Kent Amateur Radio Club. As a Certified Emergency Coordinator, I serve in Chatham-Kent for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), involving Emergency Management Ontario, Red Cross, and OPP Amber Alert program.
When severe weather threatens, I volunteer as a CanWarn storm spotter trained by Environment Canada.
I earned my Private Pilot licence, endorsed for floats, night, and VFR-OTT.
In addition to these ventures, I have been an active volunteer for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, MS Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Olympic Torch Run, and played piano for Wallaceburg Rotary.
Working with the Chatham-Kent Health Unit, I donated aerial photography of every school in Chatham-Kent, and performed PowerPoint presentations in support of the “Where’s the Shade” skin cancer awareness program.
My wife is a recent breast cancer survivor, whom I looked after through her illness.
Hobbies include astronomy, 16mm film-making, wilderness canoeing, horticulture, blogging, and politics.