Why you should support Jeff Henry

Jeff Henry has lived in Waterloo for eleven years. He has worked and lived in the ward. As an active leader in the local community, Jeff has worked with a diverse mix of local citizens: long-term residents, university administrators, local business leaders, and students. A trained facilitator, he is not afraid to take the time to talk through difficult issues, which is a skill that will serve him well when dealing with such issues as student housing in Northdale, taxes, and city services. Jeff knows how to listen to people, ask the right questions, and then build consensus on win-win solutions.

As both a citizen and a local community leader, Jeff understands what it means to be concerned about rising costs. He has successfully advocated for limiting fee increases at universities and colleges across Ontario. He knows that a city burdened by the debt of RIM Park and an increasing demand on services needs to focus on key priorities while limiting property tax increases.

Jeff also understands what it means to be concerned about noise and by-law enforcement, having previously lived in areas of the ward with student housing. At the same time, he also remembers what it was like to be a student seeking a comfortable and safe environment to learn and grow, and recognizes that this is a concern shared by many of the students living in the ward. Central-Columbia needs a city councillor who will be able to continue the hard dialogues in Northdale, working with both long-term residents and students to build relationships and respect. Jeff knows that a solution can be found that works both now and in the future, and that the solution needs to focus on building community in Northdale, working in ways that zoning alone can never fix.

Jeff is willing to face the hard problems, listen to all members of the community, and find sustainable solutions that work within the city’s authority and its budget.