A former city councillor is eyeing a return to municipal politics.

Don Bouchard, who served as a municipal councillor representing Ward 4 from 2018 to 2022, after which he ran a close campaign for mayor, is one of two candidates registered to run in Ward 5 in Clarence-Rockland.

Bouchard is a long-time resident of Clarence-Rockland and has worked for nearly 20 years as a social work professor at Collège La Cité in Ottawa.

“I don’t pretend to have all the answers,” said Bouchard. “But I know how to listen, work with people, ask the right questions, and move important issues forward.”

Bouchard’s campaign focuses on four main priorities:

Property taxes and commercial growth: He wants to address a tax increase of over 31 per cent in five years by attracting more commercial and industrial businesses to balance the tax base and reduce the burden on residents.

Road infrastructure and maintenance: He wants to improve roads, with a specific focus on preventive maintenance for asphalt roads alongside gravel road upkeep.

Community safety and speeding: Bouchard wants to enhance neighborhood safety and speeding enforcement through a stronger partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and a citizen reporting tool on the City’s app.

Highway 17 and public transportation: He is advocating for the widening of Highway 17 and pursuing a public transit agreement with OC Transpo to improve access to Ottawa.

“I want to be a strong voice for the residents of Ward 5 while maintaining a vision for the entire Clarence-Rockland community,” he added.

Bouchard said his experience on council and his knowledge about the needs and concerns of the municipality makes him the ideal candidate.

“I have already served on council, so I understand how municipal government works, the responsibilities of a councillor, and the challenges our municipality faces,” he said. “But I’m not simply a former councillor. I’m also a professor, a community leader, and, most importantly, a resident who has lived here for almost my entire life.”

Bouchard said he believes Clarence-Rockland’s potential as the city continues to grow.

“I have the experience to understand the challenges we face, but also the energy and determination to work with residents to build a municipality that is more affordable, safer, and better connected,” he stated.