David Yurich
David Yurich When asked what made him throw his hat in the ring for mayor of Billings Township, David Yurich said, “to show my daughters you have to put yourself out there and do things—lead by example.” Mr. Yurich has been coming to Kagawong for the past 14 years. “My kids grew up on the beach,” he shared. By profession Mr. Yurich is a certified financial planner, having earned his honours degree in Commerce at Laurentian University in Sudbury. “What you need to understand,” he said, “is that what we’re doing now is not to the best of our ability.” “Everybody pays significant property taxes. MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) changed things. I want to ensure we are receiving the most value for our tax dollars.” “There is no ‘I’ in team,” stressed Mr. Yurich. If elected as mayor this self proclaimed leader wants to focus on Kagawong and the first order of business is to get “the house in order.” Mr. Yurich plans to work with the present office staff to “see if they are doing the job properly and add support and help them.” “I want to see a friendly open door policy for all taxpayers (residents and non-residents alike). I don’t want to hear ‘no,’” he stated. The municipal office cannot close Fridays at noon (as it does currently), he stressed. Under his leadership it will be staffed until 6 pm on Fridays and open on Saturdays. Mr. Yurich would, if elected mayor, change a number of things when it comes to the way the council meetings are run. The day of the week and time has to change, he stated. (Meetings are currently held the first Tuesday and third Monday of each month at 7:30 pm). “They should be formal with proper decorum following Robert’s Rules of Order (written in 1876 by Henry Robert and the manual of choice when it comes to conducting orderly, productive meetings.) They should be videotaped (with all allowable content made public) and have flexible dates during summer months. Mr. Yurich has not attended any council meetings and when asked if he plans to attend one prior to the election on Monday, October 27 he responded “no.” “We need to make sure people are informed; that those who can’t get out (to meetings) have access to information on the Internet. It’s a great way for them to know what’s going on. This will increase transparency for shut ins and non residents.” “In 2014,” stated Mr. Yurich, “Seventy point six percent of taxpayers are non-residents and 20.94 percent are residents. A lot of people have to be somewhere else.” Kagawong, according to Mr. Yurich, is the “prettiest place on the Island with a real sense of community.” He feels the things that attract people to Kagawong are the “natural beauty, peace of mind and that you can call on your neighbour.”
