Mayoral candidate Gerry Marshall says his experience in both corporate world and public service sets him apart

After serving as Barrie’s mayor for 12 years, Jeff Lehman is not seeking the top job again. Deepak Bidwai, Local Journalism Initiative reporter for Barrie Community Media, spoke with Marshall on various issues including homelessness, cost of living, environment, racism and what sets him apart from other candidates in October 24 election. . 

As a warden, Marshall “introduced new services like transit and Economic Development Department,” and “created a land inventory so people looking to do business in the county Simcoe.” 

To address housing affordability, Marshall says Barrie needs to take over from Simcoe county the responsibility for caring for its homeless population. He also advocated for building more floors on the top of existing affordable housing facilities. 

The increasing inflation is putting pressure on the household budget and decreasing the net disposable income. To save residents’ transit costs, Marshall wants to make the city more walkable and transit “more accessible, affordable and convenient.”  He plans to divide “the city into four quadrants, and then have rapid transit links from one quadrant to the other.”

Marshall wants to develop an economic development committee to attract more businesses to Barrie. The proposed committee “would have two members of council from the northern wards one through five and the two members of council from the southern wards six through 10, plus the mayor,” he said. 

“The mayor's role is one of leadership,” Marshall. Talking about his experience as the Simcoe County Warden, Marshall said “the County of Simcoe was a $500 million a year budget. And a council in front of me that was three times the size of Barrie's.”