To my friends in Ward 2 and across Fort Erie,
 
I learned the value of hard work and honesty early in life. I started my first job at 15, and while I was still very young, I was living on my own and responsible for paying rent, utilities and the other expenses that come with making your own way. Some parts of growing up were harder than others, but I always knew that my parents loved me and wanted the best for me. Those early years taught me to show up, keep my word, take responsibility for myself and never expect somebody else to do the hard work for me. Those values continue to guide my family life, my career and my work on Council.
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Today, Lauren, William and Penelope are at the centre of my life and the reason I care so deeply about the future of this community. I spent more than a decade working alongside Lauren’s parents, Richie and Carole Walpole, at Crescent Flooring here in Ward 2. That experience showed me firsthand what it takes to run a small business, serve customers, make payroll and adapt when the economy changes. Shortly after Richie retired, I returned to my career in corporate Information Technology management. These experiences help me understand the pressures facing local businesses and families trying to build a life here. My own family feels those pressures too - especially the grocery bill that comes with a teenage boy. Seeing family members leave Fort Erie because the right jobs or housing were not available made those issues personal, too.
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I was first elected to Council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. I did not run for the photographs, receptions, free meals or the title. I ran because there was work to do. Council has never changed how I see myself - I am still a regular working guy raising a family, paying a mortgage and - yes - taxes. For me, public service means returning calls and emails, helping residents navigate Town Hall, pushing an issue when it has stalled, asking difficult questions and making decisions that will still make sense years from now. My approach is straightforward: use common sense, speak plainly, be honest even when the answer is not easy, and work hard for residents who need someone in their corner. I believe in helping people get a hand up when they need one, and I am prepared to fight when bureaucracy or circumstance stands in the way of a fair outcome.
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Community service has also been an important part of my life. I am proud to serve as Chair of Community Living Fort Erie, which supports people with intellectual disabilities and their families. This work is especially meaningful because my son William has special needs, and my family understands personally how important these supports can be. I have also served on the Library and Community Gaming Boards and coached with Fort Erie Minor Ball.
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I am proud of what we have accomplished together, but there is important work still ahead. That is why I am asking for the opportunity to continue serving Ward 2. With the risk of amalgamation and further loss of local control, experience matters more than ever. I understand our municipal finances and services, and know how to work with residents, Town staff and other governments to defend Fort Erie’s interests and get results. Above all, I believe Fort Erie must remain strong, resilient and independent. That means protecting local decision-making, maintaining our commitment to financial prudence, fighting for a strong and lasting future for Douglas Memorial Hospital and looking after the roads, water systems and other services we depend on without placing an unreasonable burden on the people paying the bills.
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Progress does not happen magically overnight. It takes steady work, practical decisions and people willing to keep pushing when something matters. The decisions we make today should leave the next generation with more opportunity, reliable public services and a community capable of determining its own future. This is not simply the community I represent. It is the community my family and I call home - and where I hope my children will one day raise families of their own, too.
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I am deeply grateful for the kindness, encouragement and support so many people have shown my family and me over the years. It has been a privilege to serve you. I humbly ask again for your support and your vote so we can continue building a strong, resilient and independent Fort Erie - a community we are proud to call home today and for generations to come.
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-Nick