Meet Hamilton Ward 5 ‘cheerleader’ Matt Francis
This isn't the first time incoming Ward 5 councillor Matt Francis has been caught up in a whirlwind municipal vote.
In 2018, the Davis Creek resident was a city clerk's office employee working as part of the Hamilton election bureaucracy, picking up ballot boxes and pitching in at whatever job he was volun-told" to do.
I never imagined that four years later people would be casting ballots for me," said the 32-year-old, marvelling at his victory in an 11-candidate battle for the open east-end council seat. I am so excited for this opportunity."
Francis calls himself a lifelong Ward 5 resident and cheerleader. He grew up on the beach strip and moved to the Davis Creek area in 2014 with his wife Justine and two kids, six-year-old Chloe and four-year-old Luke.
He said running for council was a natural progression" following his advocacy on ward issues like public access to the beach canal piers and a role in the federal election campaign of former ward representative Chad Collins, now a Liberal MP.
As a candidate, he promised voters he would oppose what he calls drastic intensification," pointing as an example to a multi-tower residential makeover pitched for Eastgate Square mall.
He acknowledged Eastgate Square is on a planned LRT line and due for transit-oriented development - but he also noted the existing secondary plan limits tower heights to 20 storeys. An early vision for the redevelopment includes 37- and 42-storey towers.
I am not here to discourage development, but it has to be the right development for the community," said Francis.
It remains to be seen if that sets him up in opposition to other councillors focused on needed density within Hamilton's existing urban boundary - which the outgoing council vowed to protect.
Francis said he wants to build relationships" with councillors and go into every debate with an open mind. If you can't work with other councillors, you can't get things done," he said.
Matthew Van Dongen is a reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com