About Hector

“Hec” was born and raised in Campbellford Ontario. He still resides in Campbellford with his wife Sandy and they have lived in their Frank St. home for 30 years. They have four adult children, and three grandchildren. Hec is the only son of Margaret and Hector Sr, who was Mayor of the Town of Campbellford from 1982, until his untimely death while still in office in 1990. Hec’s grandfather also served on the Town of Campbellford council for 25 years as chair of the roads and bridges committee.

Hec holds several Ontario and Inter-Provincial technical trade certificates, and has an extensive business background. He has owned and operated several successful businesses, and managed for others as well. Hec and Sandy have operated their current business for 18 years. He is adept at being prepared for changing times, and the success of several businesses he has created that are still operating today are a testament to his abilities as a visionary.

Hec is also a good negotiator and understands the management of people and business. He lead contract negotiations with the OPP that resulted in almost $250,000.00 annual savings, improved fire department agreements with neighbouring municipalities that included cost reductions, a co-operative work detail with municipal & Trent Severn Waterway staff that eliminated the Trent River core-wall leak on Grand Rd, Crowe Bridge Park being re-opened with a mutually acceptable agreement, 3 collective agreement renewals with our employees that were fair to our staff and affordable for our taxpayers, re-opening of a lane off Doxsee Ave, and the elimination of a $25,402.04 invoice from Canada Post for errors they made during the 2003 election ballot mailings.

He is a natural problem solver, thinking problems through and considering all factors, he quickly devises creative solutions that get the job done effectively and efficiently.

Remembering the Flood

During the 13 day flood and subsequent State Of Emergency in 2008, he lead the successful response and recovery that involved the co-ordination of evacuations, temporary accommodations, sandbagging operations, property security, almost 900 volunteers, Northumberland municipal forces, equipment, resources, and drinking water that limited damage and the associated effects on Trent Hills residents in the affected areas which included over 1600 properties. He has a strong desire to not only do a good job, he is not satisfied until it is completed efficently, and effectively. He is driven to perform each task well, and also to continually improve the processess he uses to complete them. As an example, rehearsed emergency response plans are now in place, and sandbag manufacturing supplies are now stocked in Trent Hills.

Hec ran his first mayoral campaign on the premise he would operate Trent Hills as a business. This has been a primary objective and has evolved through his seven years as Mayor. Today, Trent Hills has benefitted from his business experience, and has witnessed many successes, such as budgetary capital plans for the replacement of fleet vehicles, and all municipal assets that prevent sudden tax hikes, fair, affordable agreements with employees that prevents high turnover, keeping educated knowledge in-house, and an established pay-target at the middle of Northumberland municipalities (50th percentile). Some of the benefits include but are not limited to, reduced operating costs, less down-time, and energy savings.

Many policies and long-term capital plans have been put in place that have made Trent Hills more sustainable, and prevented previous large property tax spikes such as, Fire Department capital plans that run to 2016, and the right equipment in the right locations, a Community Improvement Program to leverage private sector investment to revitalize our downtown cores, and recreational centre redevelopment financing plans. Infrastructure has been replaced and upgraded at a light-speed rate, along with a host of successful grants from our upper level governments of Ontario and Canada such as, $953,334.00 for Oliver Rd, Major St. and Isabella St, $1,411,575.00 for roads and bridges, $1,300,196.00 for Canrobert St, Garry St, Richard St, and Churchill Dr, $1,207,502.00 for Hastings watermain replacements, $999,851.00 for the new Hastings waste-water treatment plant to help balance water and sewer rates, $760,956.00 annual increase to our Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund in 2006, and another $82,057.00 annual increase to our Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund in 2007, $534,146.00 for Industrial Dr, detailed design of Old Hastings Rd, and Percy St, Honeyline resurfacing, Hastings Headrace, detailed design of 3 bridges (Gummow, McCubbin, & Hay’s) paving rural road turnarounds, Leonards Lane, Skinkle Rd,and Percy 2nd Line, New St. ditch, $500,000.00 for the new Hastings waste-water treatment plant, $410,000.00 for Hay’s bridge, $403,377.00 for all 3 water plants, $308,630.00 Gas Tax Funding for roads, $250,000.00 for McCubbin bridge, $147,000.00 for Campbellford waterfront, $100,000.00 for Ontario Small Water System Assisstance Program, $77,000.00 for Fire Department equipment, $75,000.00 Special Assistance Grant for the 2008 flood, $62,417.00 for Public Libraries, $50,000.00 for War Memorial restorations, $44,600.00 for Warkworth Main St, $40,000.00 for Campbellford SK8 Park, $31,635.00 towards new Venture Van replacement, $30,000.00 for a Municipal Cultural Plan, $29,970.00 towards another new Venture Van replacement, $15,900.00 to improve public transit, $10,000.00 for new emergency generator, $6,037.58 for Emergency Control Centre, 1,893.29 to improve public transit.

Many issues that have plagued the municipality for years have been resolved such as, high Policing costs, core-wall leaks, sewer separations, basement sewer back-ups, the Leonards Lane dispute, an aging fleet, poor signage, deterioration of our War Memorials and lack of respect for our Veterans, deterioration of wastewater plants, deterioration of our municipal outdoor pool, unsightly trailer park in downtown Hastings, and the return of Ferris Park operations to the Province.

Hec has also served as Warden of Northumberland County, and subsequently he was also a member of the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus. Through the work completed by the caucus in 2007, an Eastern Ontario Prosperity Plan was produced which yielded a four year, eighty million dollar Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund from the Ontario government. Also during the 2007 caucus year, the groundwork was established for broadband internet funding to Eastern Ontario from both the Provincial and Federal governments.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Hec is a staunch supporter of local agriculture, fire and rescue, our hospital, and public works. His long-range vision for the future includes but is not limited to, Trent Hills infrastructure becoming self-sustaining with well organized and detailed capital plans to prevent sudden budget increases, and emergency repairs. Trent Hills communities working together in an effort to capitalize on tourism initiatives that drive the local economy. Well designed emergency response plans, and the necessary resources for responding to the health and safety of Trent Hills citizens, identified critical infrastructure, property perils, and mutual aid plans with our neighbouring municipalities, physician recruitment & retention, and the continuance of excellent and enhanced healthcare at Campbellford Memorial Hospital.