AMHERST – Veteran county councillor and deputy warden Gerald Read has announced he will be reoffering in District 1 when Cumberland County voters cast ballots in this October’s municipal election.
First elected in 1991, Read, a retired farmer and businessman, said he’s looking forward to representing the people of his district for four more years.
“I’ve been on municipal council for 21 years and I’m looking ahead to the election in hopes of being re-elected,” said Read, who is a former warden of the county. “I believe we have come a long way as a municipality, but I also believe there’s a lot more work to be done.”
Looking back at his time on council, Read said the county has accomplished a lot including a modern landfill in Little Forks and a top notch composting and recycling facility that has made Cumberland County the envy of other municipalities.
The county also saw the construction of a new RCMP detachment in West Amherst, a new hospital in Upper Nappan, brought water to Upper Nappan and parts of Nappan as signed a 10-year fire services agreement with Amherst.
Read is also a strong supporter of the county’s green energy initiative that includes a partnership with a Springhill and Parrsboro to develop wind, biomass, tidal and geothermal power in the county as well as two green industrial parks.
He is currently on the climate change committee for the county as well as the senior’s safety committee.
Other initiatives include a new sewage treatment facility for Biggs Drive that was completed on time and on budget, he also supports the Sprott wind project on the marsh and the new countywide system of curbside collection and the sewage treatment facility at the landfill.
He has also worked to provide funding for minor sports and the d’Orsay Road playground and worked on projects such as the Joggins Fossil Centre, Thinker’s Lodge, Cape Chignecto (including the recent Eatonville interpretive centre) and the Cumberland YMCA and its outreach programs.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
