Bernard Payer seeks one last term on C-R council gŏđŏ editionap.ca
system instead of the traditional paper bal- lot. “I was never in favour of that,” Payer said, regarding the e-vote resolution. “People like to go to the polls. Then you know it’s re- ally you that voted.” The Ward 3 councillor also thinks that the e-vote system still has too many secu- rity problems that could allow fake “proxy” votes. He’s also concerned that some peo- ple who either do not have access to a com- puter or do not understand how the e-vote system is supposed to work may get left out of the balloting in October.
“People prefer the old-fashioned way (pa- per ballot),” he said. “It’s more secure.” Now the question is whether Payer will make the e-vote issue one of the planks on his re-election campaign platform. Contin- ued attention to road improvements, both for his own ward and other areas of Clar- ence-Rockland, is one of the key issues he is going to campaign on. He’s also concerned about council’s deci- sion to start the sale process on the Jean- Marc Lalonde Arena. “That really bothers me,” he said. “That was built by the people of Rockland and
they paid for it. People want to keep their arena. I’m sure we can make it work. There are lots of things we could do. I am going to work towards saving the arena.” This will be the last election campaign for Payer. He has been involved in local politics, off and on, since 1972 when he won his first seat on the Town of Rockland council. He re-entered municipal politics in the 2010 election. “I really want to win this election. I don’t want to leave with the atmosphere of coun- cil as it is. It’s the worst council I’ve ever been on. We’re not a council that works together.”
ROCKLAND | The True Vote petition has the name of one Clarence-Rockland coun- cil member inscribed in its pages in big bold letters. Bernard Payer was one of the first to show up at a spring open house for signing the petition calling on the city to delay switch- ing over to electronic balloting as the sole means of casting votes in this year’s civic election. Council passed a resolution during its March 17 session approving an e-voting GREGG CHAMBERLAIN GREGG.CHAMBERLAIN@EAP.ON.CA
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