THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – Mark Bentz, who served on City Council as Northwood Ward Councillor from 2003 to 2014, has announced that he will be seeking election as Councillor At-Large in the October 2018 municipal election.
“I would like to put my knowledge and experience to work for the people of Thunder Bay again,” commented Bentz. Bentz’s platform is a simple one: “I will make policy decisions that are in the best long-term financial interests of the City with an eye on infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life in our community. Investments in our physical and social infrastructure are a must if we are to control costs and make Thunder Bay an attractive place to raise a family or start a business,” says Bentz. When asked about taxation, Bentz said that he wants to keep taxes in line with inflation over the next term of Council.
Bentz served as Chairman of the Waterfront Committee that oversaw the creation of Prince Arthur’s Landing, a project that attracted over $100 million in private, federal and provincial investment into the Thunder Bay economy. “Seeking out, and successfully attracting outside investment is a key feature of successful cities; we need to do more of that,” Bentz said. Bentz also cites the creation of the Community Economic Development Commission and the Infrastructure Renewal Fund Reserve as initiatives that he is proud to have helped accomplish while on Council.
Bentz feels that the knowledge and experience he has gained serving on a broad variety of community boards over the past 20 years will be valuable to Council and the people of Thunder Bay. Among other boards, Bentz has served on The Board of Education, District Social Services Board, Thunder Bay Hydro, Economic Development and Social Housing. “I enjoy working with the public and facilitating results that improve the lives of others,” said Bentz.