 The team at Vox Pop Labs has asked all municipal candidates in Ontario to participate in their Vote Compass survey to ensure that voters have access to a comprehensive view of the candidates seeking to represent them. Their site will be launched in late September, but here is a view of the survey and how David Guerin responded to each question. Candidates are asked if they Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Somewhat Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with each of the following statements and to briefly explain why: Vox Pop Labs Statement 1: Cambridge should slow new development, even if doing so comes at the expense of its economic growth. David's Position: Strongly disagree Supporting Statement: Cambridge should welcome responsible development that strengthens our economy, creates jobs and expands our tax base. The answer is not to stop growth, but to manage it well by ensuring infrastructure, transportation and public services keep pace while protecting established neighbourhoods and building complete, connected communities. Vox Pop Labs Statement 2: Cambridge should do more to combat climate change. David's Position: Somewhat agree Supporting Statement: Cambridge should continue taking practical steps to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, protect natural areas and build more resilient infrastructure. Climate action should be measurable, affordable and focused on initiatives that fall within the City’s responsibilities, while recognizing that municipalities cannot solve climate change alone. Costly, symbolic, or poorly defined measures are not the solution. Vox Pop Labs Statement 3: Municipal workers are paid too much. David's Position: Somewhat disagree Supporting Statement: Cambridge needs to pay competitive wages to attract and retain skilled employees who deliver essential public services. At the same time, compensation should be reasonable, transparent and aligned with comparable municipalities, with strong accountability for performance and value for taxpayers. Vox Pop Labs Statement 4: Private contractors are more efficient than municipal workers at delivering most municipal services. David's Position: Somewhat disagree Supporting Statement: Private contractors can sometimes deliver specialized or temporary services efficiently, but they are not automatically the best choice. Cambridge should compare cost, service quality, accountability and long-term value before deciding whether work should be performed by municipal employees or contracted out. Vox Pop Labs Statement 5: The mayor should never overturn council decisions. David's Position: Strongly disagree Supporting Statement: Council decisions should normally be respected, but “never” is too absolute. In the limited circumstances permitted by provincial law, a mayor may need to reconsider or veto a decision that conflicts with an important municipal-provincial priority. Any use of that power should be exceptional, transparent and supported by a clear public-interest rationale. Thank you for taking the time to read David's position on a number of topics. There were a total of 30 statements/questions. We will share some more over the next few days.
Want to learn more about David's vision and priorities for Ward 7 and Cambridge?
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 Exciting news! The Cambridge Elects organization, along with the support of its media and community partners, is organizing a series of Town Halls for each ward as well as the mayor and regional councillor races. All Town Halls are free, open to the public, and will be streamed live and available afterward as recordings. Cambridge Elects is a community-based, completely neutral and non-partisan initiative created to help residents become better informed before they vote and to encourage stronger voter participation. The Town Hall for Ward 7 is set for Wednesday, September 9th at Forward Church (55 Franklin Blvd.) beginning at 7:00 PM. The moderator for this event will be Marjorie Knight, the Chair/Founder of Rhythm & Blues. There will be approximately 45 minutes of moderated discussion based on general questions prepared by the organizers. Then there will be approximately 45 minutes of moderated discussion focused on the municipal topics that residents identify as most important, including the results of the survey at www.cambridgeelects.ca/take-the-survey. Potential topics for discussion include:
Here is a list of the community and media partners who are helping to put on these events, along with funding from the Waterloo Region Community Foundation.
    I have shared my Vision for Cambridge and the Priorities that will help us get there on my website. https://www.davidguerin.com/priorities.html
Vision: Cambridge will be a city that honours its history while building a stronger, more connected, and more prosperous future together. I envision:
My Priorities include:
Thank you to the team at CambridgeToday.ca for the opportunity to answer some questions that residents may have. #SupportLocalMedia  CambridgeToday has invited councillors who have provided contact information on the city election page to share a bit about who they are and their platform.
Name: David Guerin Occupation: Operations Manager, Wesley United Church; Waterloo Catholic District School Board Trustee How long have you lived in Cambridge? Cambridge has been home to my family since 1999. We lived in North Galt for nearly two decades before moving to Ward 7 in 2018. Over the past 27 years, I've built strong connections throughout our city through business, community volunteering, non-profit leadership, and public service. Cambridge has given my family so much, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back. Do you reside in the ward you are running in? Yes. My family has proudly called Ward 7 home since 2018. Why are you running in this election? For more than 25 years, I've had the privilege of serving Cambridge through business, community volunteering, non-profit leadership, and public service. Those experiences have taught me that good public service isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening carefully, asking the right questions, weighing different perspectives, and making decisions that serve the community for the long term. Read more… Ontario’s Mnister of Education has formally approved the names of both schools in the Joint Public / Catholic elementary school campus here in Ward 7 on Wesley Boulevard. Giinawind Public School, the newest school in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), will be located at 615 Wesley Boulevard. The school’s name, pronounced “Gee-nah-win,” is derived from the Ojibwe word meaning “Us, including you.” The school, which is set to open in September 2026, will create 519 spots for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. The attached childcare centre will offer 72 licensed spaces for children.” Learn more here.  The Ministry of Education also officially approved the name of Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s newest elementary school: Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School. The school, opening this September in southeast Galt, was named through a community process that included input from our students, families, and staff. The name reflects themes of protection, guidance, and care; values we know will be central to the new school's identity from its very first day. Learn more here.  Happy Canada Day everyone I was happy to participate in the Canada Day Community Celebration at the Bai’Tul Kareem Mosque in Cambridge, whose motto is “Love for all. Hatred for none.” The organizers put on a wonderful event with a BBQ, speakers, and a children’s choir performing “O Canada.” Lots of community members in attendance, including Imam Fatir Mahmood Ahmad, Regional Councillors Doug Craig, Chantal Huinink, and Colleen James, Dr. Matt Strauss who is the MP for Kitchener South-Hespeler, Chief of Police Mark Crowell, and Deputy Chief of Police John Goodman.      Project SEARCH 2025/26 Graduates at the CMH  David Guerin with WCDSB Principal Erin Lemak and Cambridge Memorial Hospital CEO Patrick Gaskin What a wonderful ceremony last night for the graduates of the Project SEARCH program at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. I was so thrilled to be able to attend and cheer on these amazing young people and their families.
The program is a unique school-to-work training program for students with disabilities. Students get more than 700 hours of hands-on experience in a variety of different roles at the hospital. They learn employable skills and get support from a teacher and skills trainer - plus the dozens of amazing colleagues at the CMH. I’m so impressed with everyone who helped make this program a reality, including CMH Hospital CEO Patrick Gaskin and his team, the WCDSB, and KW Habilitation.  After much reflection and many conversations with family, friends, and community members, I've decided to put my name forward for Cambridge City Council in Ward 7. Ward 7 is an incredible place to live, and I believe thoughtful leadership can help us navigate growth while preserving the strong sense of community that makes this area special. Over the coming months, I look forward to listening, learning, and earning your trust. David  |
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