Thomas seeks re-election to Summerside City Council

Thomas seeks re-election to Summerside City Council

Four years ago after going door to door for the first time and promising he would be a hard working councillor, Councillor Cory Thomas, Chair of Summerside Police Services, is promising to take that hard working promise one step further, and is going to seek re-election this fall in the City's municipal election, as the councillor for Ward 8 Wilmot. If re-elected, Thomas says he will lobby council to continue to invest in ditch-infilling for Wilmot, to repave many side streets in the subdivisions in Wilmot, and get more playground equipment in Meadow Heights and Lefurgey Parks, and lobby the province to have a turning lane on Read Drive for the residents of Perry subdivision. He would also like to make the crosswalks more noticeable throughout Ward 8, in particular the cross walk on Water Street and Small Avenue.
From a City perspective, he wants to get all stakeholders and the city to develop a tourism strategy, wants the City to get the business community involved in developing economic development policies, develop a leisure service delivery review involving input from the citizens, and continue working with the City’s Crime Prevention Committee.
Thomas believes in citizen centered government where policies are developed with effective consultation techniques that involve input from the citizens and groups the policies are meant to serve.
"If re-elected, I will continue to lobby council to develop policies involving the key stakeholders. I feel true community development takes place through working side by side with residents and the community. I believe City Hall can make some improvements in that regard."
Thomas points to the City's Crime Prevention Committee which is comprised of community volunteers and staff from the Attorney General's Office as the appropriate approach to solving issues in the community. Thomas developed the mandate and committee structure, appointed the volunteers and supported the committee engaging the public. The committee developed a community safety audit, the first municipality on Prince Edward Island to do so. As a result many recommendations have come to council and are in the process of being implemented.
Thomas is also proud of other projects during his first term; his hard work in achieving ditch infilling, free use of the walking track at Credit Union Place for residents, repaving of Water Street East and lobbying council to hire a crossing guard for Athena School.
In addition to being Chair of the City Police Services Committee, Thomas is also Co-Chair of Community Services Committee and a member of the Policy Review Committee. He is a college instructor and lives in Meadow Heights with his wife My Linh and their daughter Kayla.