As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking about how much there is to be grateful for right here in our community.

In Ward 7, I’m grateful to see new investments taking shape, including the recreation centre and community hub that will give families and neighbours another place to gather, connect and build community.

But more than anything, I’m grateful for the people.

We hear a lot these days about how divided people have become, particularly when it comes to politics. Some of that division is real. But it isn’t the whole story.

Every day, people in our community volunteer, coach, organize events, support local causes, help neighbours and simply show up for one another. Most of those moments never make the news.

That is the Cambridge I know.

We may not always agree on politics or on the best way to solve every problem. But we share a community. We want our kids and grandchildren to have opportunities. We want our neighbourhoods to be safe and welcoming. And when people need one another, we still find ways to come together.

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for my family, for nearly 30 years of calling Cambridge home, and for the people who make this such a good place to live.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

It’s easy during an election campaign to talk about big ideas.

Growth. Housing. Economic development. Transit. Revitalization. The future of Cambridge.

Those conversations matter. I’ve talked a lot about them during this campaign, because Cambridge is changing quickly and the decisions we make now will shape our city for decades.

But I also believe something much simpler:

A bigger vision for Cambridge starts with getting the basics right:

For most residents, their experience of municipal government isn’t a strategic plan or a council agenda.

• It’s the road they drive on every morning.
• It’s whether the sidewalk is cleared in winter.
• It’s the condition of the neighbourhood park.
• It’s whether speeding on their street is taken seriously.
• It’s whether garbage is picked up, potholes are repaired, trees are maintained and construction projects are coordinated properly.

These things may not sound exciting.
But they matter enormously.

The everyday things shape how we feel about our city:

When municipal services work well, most of us barely notice them.
That’s actually the point.

• You turn on the tap and clean water comes out.
• You drive to work without spending your entire commute dodging potholes.
• You take your kids or grandchildren to a park that is safe and well maintained.
• You can walk through your neighbourhood on sidewalks that are accessible and in good condition.

These services create something important: confidence.

• Confidence that your city is being managed well.
• Confidence that tax dollars are being used carefully.
• Confidence that when Cambridge takes on bigger projects, it can actually deliver them.

And when the basics aren’t working, residents notice very quickly.

Growth makes the basics even more important:

Ward 7 is one of the fastest-growing parts of Cambridge.

New homes are being built. New families are arriving. New neighbourhoods are taking shape.

That growth creates opportunity, but it also creates pressure.

• More vehicles on the road.
• More demand on parks, recreation facilities and public services.
• More strain on intersections and transportation corridors.
• More pressure to make sure infrastructure keeps pace.

That’s why growth can’t simply mean approving more development and hoping everything else catches up later.

We need to plan ahead.

Roads, sidewalks, parks, recreation, transit and other services need to grow alongside our neighbourhoods.

Residents should be able to see that growth is improving our city, not simply adding pressure to systems that are already stretched.

Good government is often about execution:

There will always be big policy debates at City Hall.
There should be.

But municipal government is also about something less glamorous: execution.

• Setting priorities.
• Maintaining infrastructure.
• Coordinating projects.
• Responding to residents.
• Measuring results.
• Following through.

Those are the kinds of things I have spent much of my career doing — in business, community organizations and public service.

Good ideas matter.
But implementation matters just as much.

Getting the basics right doesn’t mean thinking small:

In fact, I believe the opposite.

A city that manages its core responsibilities well is better positioned to pursue bigger opportunities.

• A stronger local economy.
• More attainable housing.
• Better transportation connections.
• A vibrant downtown.
• Well-planned neighbourhood growth.
• More investment and good jobs.
• A city that people are proud to call home.

But ambitious plans work best when they are built on a strong foundation.
​
That foundation is reliable services, well-maintained infrastructure, responsible spending and a municipal government that residents can trust to deliver.

Practical leadership matters:

One of my three priorities in this campaign has been simple:

Get the Basics Right.

• That means safer streets.
• Well-maintained roads and sidewalks.
• Strong parks and neighbourhoods.
• Reliable municipal services.
• And a City Hall focused on delivering results.

It may not be the flashiest campaign promise.
But I think it is one of the most important.

Because before we talk about everything Cambridge might become, we need to make sure we are doing a good job taking care of the city we already have.

​And from that strong foundation, we can build something even better.

One thing I had hoped this election would bring was a real discussion about the future of Cambridge and Ward 7. 

​And there have been some excellent opportunities for that.

Over the past several weeks, local organizations and media have created town halls, candidate interviews, questionnaires, voter guides and issue surveys designed to help residents hear directly from the people asking for their vote.

I have tried to take part whenever I can.

Some of those opportunities have been straightforward. Others have involved long questionnaires, difficult trade-offs or questions where a simple yes-or-no answer did not really capture my view.

But I think that is part of what elections should be about.

Campaigns should give residents more than signs, flyers and slogans. They should give people a chance to hear how candidates think, what they value, how they approach difficult choices and what they would actually try to accomplish if elected.

​I have appreciated the organizations that have invested time in creating those opportunities, including: 

• CambridgeToday (profile of David Guerin dated July 20, 2026). Questions include:
  • How long have you lived in Cambridge?
  • Do you reside in the Ward you're running in?
  • Why are you running in this election?
  • Why should residents of Cambridge vote for you?
  • What do you see as the 3 top issues facing residents?
  • What is the most important thing you want to see changed?
• Cambridge Elects (video of Sept 9, 2026, Town Hall for Ward 7). If you prefer, you can watch David's responses from the event exclusively on the Video page. Topics include:
  • Why are you running?
  • What experience and skills do you bring?
  • What is your vision for Cambridge?
  • Jobs & the Economy.
  • Property Taxes.
  • Affordable housing.
  • Accessibility and inclusion.
  • Growth versus protecting heritage.
  • Homelessness & Encampments.
  • Relationship with the Region. 
• Cambridge Chamber of Commerce (published Sept 29, 2026). If you prefer, you can watch David's interviews exclusively on the Video page. Interview questions:
  1. Will your decisions be based on your constituents or the good of Cambridge?
  2. How will you work with the developer and residents to find common ground?
  3. How will you work within the Strong Mayor Powers system?
  4. How will you address attainable housing in Cambridge? 
• Strong Towns Waterloo Region, a local conversation group made up of local residents who want to make Waterloo Region a better place, published an extensive survey. Topics include:
  • Housing
  • Getting Around
  • Climate
  • Food
  • Growth & Planning
  • Budget & Taxes
  • Water
• Vote COMPASS, an interactive online voting advice application developed by political scientists and operated by Vox Pop Labs, where voters can take a test to see how their views align with local candidates. Topics include:
  • Development and growth
  • Housing
  • Property taxes, Vacant home taxes
  • LRT
  • Homelessness and encampments, public drug use
  • Policing
  • Strong Mayor Powers
  • Pride flags and Land Acknowledgements
  • Heritage buildings
  • Sidewalk snow clearing
• CTV Kitchener survey (response submitted on Sept 8, 2026, but not yet published).  In the meantime, here is a link to my responses. Questions include: 
  • Why have you decided to run in the municipal election?
  • In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge's community is currently facing?
  • How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge's historic charm?
  • What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge?
• TriTAG (Tri-Cities Transport Action Group) Election Questionnaire 2026, focusing on issues related to transportation and moving around the region. Topics include:
  1. Vision Zero: What steps would you take or support to reduce deaths and injuries of people walking, biking, and driving in your ward / our region?
  2. Winter Sidewalks: What policies would you support to improve the state of our sidewalks in the winter?
  3. Micromobility: What actions would you support at the municipal level to improve safety and comfort for micromobility riders on streets/roads and for pedestrians on shared multi-use paths?
  4. Land Use: What do you believe your municipality should be doing to enable more people to live closer to the places they go on a regular basis?
  5. Grand River Transit: Will you commit to supporting the GRT business plan rollout at budget time?
  6. Building ION Stage 2: What would you do to ensure ION Stage 2 is built effectively?
  7. ION Stage 2 Funding/Control: Would you be willing to support local property tax contributions to the capital cost if needed to ensure that ION expansion is done under local control, not that of Metrolinx?
• Climate Action WR created a Candidate Pledge which I signed.
• ACB (African Caribbean Black) Network Waterloo Region candidate survey (response submitted Sept. 22, 2026 but not yet published). In the meantime, here is a link to my responses. Topics include:
  1. Municipal governments role in advancing equity and reconciliation
  2. Underrepresented voices
  3. Affordable housing and connected communities
  4. Social determinants of health
  5. Hate crimes and safety
  6. Retaining talent and contributing to economic growth
  7. AI infrastructure and data centres
• ACORN Waterloo Region Municipal Election Candidate Survey on Tenant Protections submitted Sept 8, 2026 (not yet published). In the meantime, here is a link to my responses.
• CBC K-W Candidate Survey (responses submitted Oct 5, 2026 but not yet published). In the meantime, here is a link to my responses. Questions include:
  • Briefly describe what your top 3 priorities are in this election.
  • Explain how you would address each priority.
  • What else do you want voters to know about you and your campaign?

Each has approached the election a little differently. Together, they give voters a broader picture of the people asking to represent them.

I also think these conversations matter beyond any one election.

Cambridge is growing quickly. We are making decisions about housing, transportation, infrastructure, taxes, neighbourhoods and public services that will shape the city for years to come. Those decisions deserve thoughtful public discussion.

The more opportunities we create for residents to hear different perspectives, ask questions and engage with the issues, the stronger our local democracy becomes.

That is the kind of campaign I have tried to run: one focused on ideas, practical priorities and being clear about where I stand.

And as we get closer to October 26, I hope residents will take advantage of these resources, compare the choices in front of them and make the decision that feels right for them.

Over the past several months, I’ve spent a lot of time knocking on doors across Ward 7.
It has been one of the best parts of this campaign.

Most conversations are not long. People are busy. They are getting dinner ready, heading out, looking after kids, walking the dog or just trying to enjoy the end of the day.

But when I ask what they like about their neighbourhood, what frustrates them, or what they would like City Hall to pay more attention to, people are usually very willing to share.

And after hundreds of conversations, some clear themes keep coming up.

Traffic, speeding and roads:

This is probably the issue I hear about most often.

People talk about speeding on residential streets, growing traffic, road conditions, construction and whether our transportation network is keeping up with how quickly this part of Cambridge is growing.

The delayed extension of McQueen Shaver Boulevard is a good example. Residents in this part of the city see the impact every day, whether it is more traffic on Franklin Boulevard, trucks using routes that were not really designed for them, or increasing congestion as new neighbourhoods continue to grow.

People are not saying, “Stop all growth.”

They are saying, “If we are going to grow, can we please make sure the infrastructure keeps up?”

I think that is entirely reasonable.

Property taxes and the cost of living:

Property taxes come up frequently at the doors.
And usually they are part of a much bigger conversation.

Groceries cost more. Housing costs more. Utilities, insurance and almost everything else cost more. Families are feeling squeezed, and seniors on fixed incomes are paying close attention to every increase.

I have had more than a few residents simply ask me, “Why are our taxes so high?”
That deserves a serious answer.

I do not think it is responsible to promise huge tax cuts without explaining what services would change as a result. But I do think City Council needs to keep asking some basic questions.

• Are we spending money on the right things?
• Are we getting good value?
• Can something be done more efficiently?
• Are there opportunities to reduce costs rather than simply passing increases along to taxpayers?

Every tax dollar should have a job.

And as Cambridge grows, we need new housing, businesses and investment to help broaden the tax base instead of simply adding new costs.

Growth is not the problem. Poorly managed growth is:

I have been struck by how balanced many residents are about growth.

• People understand that Cambridge needs more housing.
• Parents want their children to have a chance of living here.
• People want good jobs and new businesses.
• They want investment in the city.

But they also want growth to make sense.

They want roads, recreation, parks, schools, transit and other services to keep pace.

They want neighbourhoods to remain good places to live.

They want new development to fit into the broader community rather than feeling like it was dropped into place without enough thought about what comes next.

Ward 7 is right in the middle of that challenge.

We are one of the fastest-growing parts of Cambridge. That creates tremendous opportunity, but it also means we need to be thoughtful about what kind of community we are building.

We should not simply be adding houses.

We should be building neighbourhoods where people can actually live well.

The basics matter more than politicians sometimes think:

Some of the conversations I remember most are about very ordinary things.

• A pothole that has been there too long.
• A sidewalk that is difficult to navigate.
• A park that needs attention.
• Speeding on a street where kids play.
• Snow clearing.
• Traffic at a particular intersection.

These are not necessarily the issues that make headlines.

But they affect people's lives every day.

I want Cambridge to have a bigger vision for its future. I want us to be more prosperous, more connected and more welcoming. I want us to attract investment, support local businesses and create more opportunities for people to build their lives here.

But I also believe that bigger vision starts with getting the basics right.

People should be able to expect their roads, parks, sidewalks and neighbourhoods to be well maintained.

That may not sound glamorous, but it is a big part of what good municipal government is supposed to do.

Transit comes up too:

Transit does not come up at every door, but when it does, people tend to be practical about it.

• They want reliable local bus service.
• They want better connections across Cambridge and Waterloo Region.
• Many people would like better GO service connecting Cambridge with the GTA.

And when we talk about bigger transit projects, including rapid transit, I think residents want the same thing they want with most major decisions: good information and a clear explanation of the trade-offs.

• What will it cost?
• Who will use it?
• Where should it go?
• When does it make sense?
• And how does it fit with the many other transportation and infrastructure needs we have?

Those are the questions council should be asking.

Affordability runs underneath almost everything:

One thing I have noticed is that people do not always use the word “affordability.”
But they are talking about it all the time.

• They are talking about property taxes.
• Rent.
• Housing prices.
• Transportation costs.
• Young adults who cannot afford to move out.
• Seniors wondering whether they will be able to stay in the homes they have lived in for decades.

Municipal government cannot solve the cost-of-living crisis on its own.

But we also should not use that as an excuse to do nothing.

• We can encourage more housing.
• We can attract businesses and jobs.
• We can make smart infrastructure decisions.
• We can control the costs that are within our control.
• And we can make sure people are receiving good value for what they pay.

What I hear most is a desire for practical government

Maybe the biggest thing I have learned at the doors is how reasonable most people are.

They do not expect City Hall to fix every problem overnight.

They understand that some issues are the responsibility of the City, some belong to the Region and some belong to the provincial or federal government.

They just want someone who will listen, figure out who can actually do something about the issue, and then follow through.

I like those conversations.

• Sometimes I agree with the person at the door.
• Sometimes I do not.
• Sometimes they raise an issue I have already spent a lot of time thinking about.
• And sometimes they tell me something I had not considered at all.

That is exactly why knocking on doors matters.

Campaigns involve signs, websites, videos, questionnaires and social media.
But democracy still happens one conversation at a time.

And those conversations have reinforced the three things I have been talking about throughout this campaign:

Get the basics right.
Grow the right way.
Deliver value for tax dollars.

​And through all of it, keep listening to the people you are there to represent.

David Guerin responses to the CBC K-W's candidate survey, submitted on Oct. 5, 2026:

Briefly describe what your top 3 priorities are in this election.

1. Get the Basics Right
2. Grow the Right Way
3. Deliver Value for Tax Dollars​

Explain how you would address priority #1

• I would start by focusing attention and resources on the everyday services residents rely on most, including: reliable municipal services, safer streets, well-maintained roads, sidewalks, parks and neighbourhoods.​

David Guerin responded to the survey from the African Caribbean Black (ACB) Network Waterloo Region on Sept 22, 2026.

1. Municipal governments play an important role in advancing equity and reconciliation. What concrete actions would you prioritize over the next four years to reduce inequities experienced by Black communities and Indigenous Peoples in our municipality, and how would you measure whether those actions are making a difference?

• I would start by building on the work already underway while making sure it produces tangible results.
• That means meaningful engagement with Black and Indigenous residents and organizations when policies or services affect them; continuing the City's work toward reconciliation and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action that apply to municipalities; identifying barriers in municipal programs, employment, procurement and public spaces; and ensuring City services are accessible and welcoming.

On September 9, I joined fellow candidates Manuel da Silva and Dani Ieso for the Cambridge Elects Ward 7 Town Hall at Forward Church. Tasneem Chhadiya and John Teat were not in attendance.  The moderator was Marjorie Knight, the Chair and Founder of Rhythm & Blues Cambridge.

​The format was a good challenge: candidates had just one minute per response, and the discussion topics were ranked by residents themselves. We covered a lot of ground, including homelessness, taxes, housing, traffic, growth, transit, jobs, community safety, recreation, the environment, active transportation and accessibility. If you weren't able to watch the Town Hall, here are a few excerpts from my responses: