Retired KLPS inspector runs for Ward 8
When Tom Hickey retired from Kawartha Lakes Police Services last year, he didn’t know what he would do next. That is, until his brother phoned and told him he should run for council in this October’s municipal election.
The Omemee resident at first didn’t want to run. “Then I started really looking at it, and the skill set that I carried with me (in policing) I think really applies to the work that a councillor does.”
Hickey said he doesn’t have a platform he’s running on, not wanting to make promises he can’t keep. “If you’re going to do something, or say you’re going to do something, then you better be sure you can do it.”
Hickey has been knocking on doors around Ward 8, which includes communities like Pontypool, Janetville, and Bethany.
Roads are the number one issue he’s heard about, but he’s realistic that it’s not an issue that can be solved on day one, should he be elected. Many residents have mentioned to him their issues with snowplowing being done late in the morning, despite many of them being commuters.
Hickey wants to make Kawartha Lakes a place for young adults, noting both his sons want to stay in the area. “I need to do something to make sure that this is a place that they want to stay. I don’t know what that looks like, and you have to try to balance (the needs) of the people we have,” like farmers with the anticipated growth.
From his time with KLPS, Hickey said he would bring a lot of skills to the council table. He finds himself to be civic-minded, with a concern for the well-being of the community.
He co-created the KLPS community situation table. The table would bring together different organizations, like police, mental health providers, and addiction services, to help vulnerable community members. “It was one of the best things. It opened my eyes to so much that’s going on in our community that we don’t pay attention to,” Hickey said.
He also helped implement KLPS officers having tablets in their cars for e-ticketing. “Things that would make my officers’ jobs and lives easier, and that’s what I hope I can do at council.”
As for why Ward 8 residents should vote for him this October, Hickey said they should do their own research into all the candidates. “The best predictor of future performance or behaviour is past behaviour of performances. If you do your research, I think (residents) can make their voting decision based on that.”
Kawartha Lakes Weekly is reaching out to all candidates running in the October 26 municipal election to give readers a broader view of the people seeking a seat on council. Additional candidate profiles will be published as interviews are completed.
