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Ward 7 candidate Andrea Jacks prioritizes budget responsibility in New Tecumseth

October 15, 2026   ·   0 Comments

With the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 26, we invited each councillor candidate to respond to the same three questions about their reason for running, priorities and vision for the municipality, and qualifications. 

Their responses are published below as submitted, subject to length and standard copy editing for style, grammar and clarity. 

Candidates were asked to keep their responses focused on their own qualifications, priorities and vision for the municipality. 

1) What are the largest issues facing the Town of New Tecumseth? 

The next council’s immediate focus must be the 2027 budget.

With the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity shaping the global landscape, council must approach fiscal planning with responsibility and discernment. 

Factors both within and beyond our control are creating an unsustainable cost of living.

Strategies and decisions being made at all levels of government in Canada are affecting residents’ ability to thrive and build a future that ensures stability and the opportunity to live, work, and play with reasonable financial security.

Just as we do with our personal finances, the next Council will need to take a holistic view of New Tecumseth’s operating model and make prudent decisions that prioritize needs over wants.

Our town’s diverse population creates competing priorities and requires a unified Council that takes a pragmatic approach and produces a budget in the best interest of all New Tecumseth residents.

2) With development being mandated by the province and causing concern among residents, how should council approach development and growth? 

Council should continue engaging with residents to ensure people feel seen, heard, and understood, and to provide clarity and insight on matters of expanding development. 

Council should act as a conduit between residents and town staff to ensure the right information is shared, and people truly understand the province’s role in shaping residential growth in our municipality. 

A unified council will ensure that the infrastructure required to facilitate growth and expansion is thoughtfully sequenced and funded by those seeking to build. 

3) What experience and leadership qualities do you have that make you the right choice for residents’ votes? 

I will remain committed to serving our community with integrity, empathy, and common sense.

My career in leadership development & training and business coaching for high-performing team effectiveness has given me experience with diverse thinking and helping people build real influence through trust, credibility, and respect.

I have the privilege of working with people from diverse backgrounds and with different priorities, and I’ve learned that clear, direct communication solves most issues.

I bring a practical, balanced, common-sense perspective to the issues that matter most to our community, and it would be an honour to continue serving in this capacity. 

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