Candidate Gosling: City Requires Leadership

“The City of Hamilton urgently needs stewards who are capable of addressing the current financial challenges that the city is experiencing and correct any inappropriate resolutions or decisions that could further harm the City of Hamilton finances and/or tarnish its reputation,” the Charles Gosling campaign said ahead of this week’s election.

Mr Gosling, who previously served as Mayor of Hamilton in 2009—2013, is running against Carlton Simmons for the position of Hamilton Mayor

The leadership message from Mr Gosling’s campaign said, “The City of Hamilton deserves leaders who are able to and committed to conduct its business, which is in the best interest of its residents, rate payers and the Bermuda public in general.

“The City of Hamilton urgently needs stewards who are capable of addressing the current financial challenges that the city is experiencing and correct any inappropriate resolutions or decisions that could further harm the City of Hamilton finances and/or tarnish its reputation.

“The Team will restore transparency, through open meetings to the public, as well as good governance enforcing effective methods of codes of conduct and conflict of interest standards for its elected officials and all City employees. Industrial harmony through open dialogue and ongoing communication with all City Hall colleagues will be a priority.”

The 2015 Municipal elections will take place this Thursday [May 7] and will see voters head to the polls in both Hamilton and St George’s.

Mr. Gosling is set to run against Carlton Simmons for Hamilton Mayor, while the east will see Quinell Francis, Alfonso Harris, and incumbent Garth Rothwell running for St. George’s Mayor.

Voters will also be selecting Municipal Residents’ Councillors in Hamilton, choosing between John Holdipp III, Henry Ming, Carlton Johnson, George Scott, Aaron Scott, Derrick Phipps, and RoseAnn Edwards.

There will not be an election for Business Ratepayers Councillors for the City of Hamilton, as there were only four candidates, including John Nicholas Swan, Lawrence Gordon Scott, John Harvey, and Dennis Tucker.

In St. George’s, the Business Ratepayers’ Elections and the Municipal Residents’ Elections were also uncontested. Philip Seaman and Faith Bridges are the St. George’s Business Ratepayers’ Councillors, while the Municipal Residents Councillors are H. Anthony Richardson, Wilfred Bean, Phillip Anderson, Eakin McLaughlin, Elizabeth Christopher, and Jamie Sapsford.

The statement from the Gosling campaign is below:

A Well Run City Requires Leadership and a strong Residents’ Council Members team.

What is necessary today is a strong working relationship with government, prudent finances and getting the city back in order. That is assured with our team.

The team has three well respected professional candidates who bring a positive and proven track record to City Hall.

You are entitled to one vote for Mayor and there is only one candidate with demonstrated leadership ability for this job– Charles Gosling.

Charles Gosling served as Mayor of Hamilton in 2009—2013 having been a Common Councillor the prior year. He is a Managing Director of the Gosling Group of Companies and Bermuda Duty Free Ltd. He has presided as the longest serving President of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, President of the Bermuda Zoological Society, founding member of B.E.S.T. as well as serving on the Board of Education, Bermuda Small Business Development Corp. and several other government and private boards.

2. Vote for Strong Residents’ Council Members

You are entitled to 4 votes for the Residents’ Council Members, our two team members are committed.

Henry Ming is no stranger to Hamilton having lived 20 of his younger years on Union Street and occupying an office on Ewing Street for the last 2 decades. He has a passion for the architectural and cultural history of his neighborhood. He was deeply involved in the North Hamilton Development Plan which stands as a model for the development of the area. He served as President of the Bermuda National Trust, Hamilton Lions Club and the Architectural Assoc. of Bermuda; combined with his chairmanship of various government boards gives him the governance skills for a proficient move into the inner workings of the Corporation.”

Carlton Johnson, life long city resident and business owner. An educator for over 30 years with a wealth of team work experience and fighting for the rights of the people of North Hamilton. “I’m ready to serve the people of Hamilton to ensure that they have a good representative and that they have a voice.”

The Leadership Message:

The City of Hamilton deserves leaders who are able to and committed to conduct its business, which is in the best interest of its residents, rate payers and the Bermuda public in general.

The City of Hamilton urgently needs stewards who are capable of addressing the current financial challenges that the city is experiencing and correct any inappropriate resolutions or decisions that could further harm the City of Hamilton finances and/or tarnish its reputation.

The Team will restore transparency, through open meetings to the public, as well as good governance enforcing effective methods of codes of conduct and conflict of interest standards for its elected officials and all City employees. Industrial harmony through open dialogue and ongoing communication with all City Hall colleagues will be a priority.

The Team will work with the Government to ensure that Hamilton has a sufficient number of cruise ship visits year round.

Public meetings will be held to invite ideas and develop a strategic plan for the City.

Seek cooperation with Government on parking and other outstanding Ordinances.

Some initiatives to be concentrated on by the team if elected are:

• To instigate an audit of the financial well-being of the Corporation and to report back to the rate payers and electorate within 90 days of taking office.
• To re-introduce a regular Town Hall Meeting schedule to improve dialogue.
• Governance is key. We commit to having a code of conduct, removing conflicts of interest, taking intimidation out of the work place, making this organisation even more transparent in its policies, guidelines and criteria for making decisions and resolutions.
• The full integration of North Hamilton and the Economic Empowerment Zone with the rest of the City.
• Improved roads, lighting, residential parking and general infrastructure in North Hamilton, in particular, the development of the recently purchased Court & Dundonald Street property as a community asset.
• A push for Government approval of the City Rangers program to address parking violations, vagrancy, panhandling, antisocial, and promote neighbourhood safety.
• Creating a stable working relationship with Government.
• More CCTV cameras.
• Greater control of the planning process within the City limits and further community consultation on development projects.
• Development of the Waterfront and a dedicated cruise ship for Hamilton.
• Further improve public participation at Committee and Council Meetings.

We believe:

We believe that cooperation, not divisiveness is critical for the betterment of our City. We give our promise to all who live, work and enjoy the City of Hamilton that we will continue to work this way.

We will use our synergy to effect positive change, ensuring the viability of our City through sound administration and programmes.

In these uncertain times the City of Hamilton needs a team with proven leadership capabilities and a track record of success in both their public and private careers.

The next three years will be critical to the future of Hamilton. Experience and the willingness to embrace the entirety of the Hamilton Community will make winners of us all.

A vote for Charles Gosling, Henry Ming and Carlton Johnson is a vote for putting the City into safe hands.

We look forward to seeing all voters on May 7th, Election Day!

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