Regina Votes: Mayoral candidate Tony Fiacco on side of city workers
Council spending, infrastructure deterioration, expenses among list of issues Fiacco hopes to address
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition is speaking with all five of the mayoral candidates in Regina this week.
Today's candidate has a familiar name but a new face; Tony Fiacco is the brother of former mayor Pat Fiacco.
Tony Fiacco says he wants more transparency and consultation from city administration, citing concerns with available information during previous city budgets. He also hopes to gain support by backing the city workers, such as those working in transit, the fire department, city police and so on.
Support for city workers
"We're definitely going to bat for city employees," Fiacco said.
Fiacco mentioned the wages and expenses of former city manager Glen Davies, who claimed nearly half a million dollars in expenses and nearly a quarter million in wages in 2014. Michael Fougere, who is running for re-election, called a retirement package Davies received earlier in 2016 — $717,000 — an "excessive" and "large" payment.
"I think we can better spend that on our front line and improve our streets, for example," Fiacco said.
Hiring more workers an option
He noted that over a six year period, from 2008 to 2014, top wage earners at the city had their pay increased by 42 per cent.
"I don't see the city workers getting that kind of money."
Fiacco says he is open to bringing in more workers, as well. He noted the number of firefighters in Regina has dipped over the last few decades despite Regina's continued growth.
Fiacco says while he does not know much about his brother's administration, his would differ from that of Pat Fiacco's time in office as well as the current administration.
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More transparency required
"I know that from the current, how things are done currently, I am going to bring in a spirit of cooperation," Fiacco said.
He feels there needs to be more cooperation between the city of Regina and surrounding towns and villages.
"There's animosity between the councils and the city of Regina," he said of neighbouring municipal governments.
In terms of a transparent administration, Fiacco said people have approached him expressing concern and frustration with infrastructure and the pace at which permits are issued.
"We need to inform the citizens of what's happening ahead of time and give them a voice in council with how we're spending our money," Fiacco said, adding it seemed as if people were finding out about decisions at the last minute.
With files from The Morning Edition