Ann Lawlor is a Halton Hills Town Councillor who has worked with Halton Hills for over three terms. Now, Ann hopes to advance in her political career and is running in the next municipal election for Mayor. Lawlor was first elected for council in 2010 and has represented the southern and Delrex areas of Georgetown for eleven years. Lawlor sat down with Acton UP and joined us in an interview regarding her campaign.
“Throughout Acton and Halton Hills, we live in this great small town full of beautiful neighbourhoods where people know one another and feel safe, like a nirvana. I am motivated to maintain this environment, sense of community and hometown charm. If we merge into sprawl, I believe we will lose our soul—geography matters.”
If elected Halton Hills Mayor Lawlor is determined to keep Halton Hills a safe and rural environment where farmland is sacred. Lawlor is aware of the unwavering pressure for Halton Hills to build on farmland. Lawlor comments, “growing is very important, but I believe we should grow up rather than out.” Lawlor continues, “for example, when we talk about adding more housing, we should be looking at houses that are on smaller lots and looking at housing that allows seniors and first-time home buyers in our communities and in our town.”
Lawlor brings a significant track record to the table, including being on council for several years. Lawlor believes it is important for her to be elected as mayor because “I am the type of person who is able to see something promising.” Lawlor continues, “how can we apply that here and make it a part of our experience in this community.”
Lawlor is extremely dedicated to her local community and has spent the last thirty-five years in Halton Hills. Throughout her time in Halton, Lawlor has volunteered for several local programs and organizations in order to benefit the community. Notably, Lawlor was involved with saving the Devereaux House from demolition, fundraising for the Old Seedhouse Garden and organizing a Safeway in Acton for a Syrian refugee family.
“I believe somebody who is mayor needs to see potential and know how to apply it. That is something special that I have and bring to the table. I see opportunities! I also have the capacity to organize and make opportunities flourish. There are opportunities everywhere, and we should encourage people to capitalize on them.”
Lawlor believes there are a lot of great opportunities for growth in Halton Hills, however, she is also aware of the problems the community has been facing and she plans on challenging them.
“We need to keep up the pressure of trucks going on through town, that is not a good situation. We need to make sure that our roads are safe also, especially around schools, sometimes the area around the school can be the most dangerous.”
Lawlor believes that it is a mayor’s duty not only to look at the bigger picture but also at the smaller details too. “We need to pay attention,” comments Lawlor. Community is extremely important to Lawlor, she believes it is essential that Halton Hills is protected and encouraged. The downtown environment, local business and local programs are all significantly paramount to Lawlor and she hopes to see the community flourish. Lawlor shares, “big things can happen in our small town. There is passion, there is a promise and there is talent. As mayor, I will continue to help those big things happen.”
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