Water tops Kellegrew's list of priorities

BROOKDALE - After 18 years on county council, John Kellegrew is showing no signs of slowing down. The veteran councilor already has issues on his mind that he wants to pursue after the Oct. 20 election. The District 2 councilor was one of four re-elected by acclamation last month, when no other candidates filed nominations by deadline day. It is only the second time since his first election in 1994 that Kellegrew has returned without a fight. He said he was looking at acclamation as a vote of confidence from his constituents, rather than a sign of voter apathy. "I am outspoken, and I do take people's concerns to heart... I voice their concerns and I bring them to council," he said. "I'm only a phone call away and I've always been that way. I don't plan on changing." Campaign or not, Kellegrew had no hesitation in naming his top priority as a councilor for the next four years. "The biggest issue I have is water for Maccan residents and Fenwick residents... or any resident," he said. "My take on water is that it's every person's God-given right to have good, clean drinking water, and it's been my fight ever since I've been on council." Both Fenwick and Maccan, along with Pugwash, have been areas identified by the county as in need of a quality water source, according to Kellegrew, who said they are getting close on Maccan, but will have to wait until after the election to try and reach necessary agreement with the Town of Amherst. Another priority he identified was economic development, i.e. to clear up issues the municipality has with the Cumberland Regional Development Authority. The county called on the provincial government in August to suspend the authority's executive director and board of directors in light of the provincial ombudsman's recommendations to safeguard its assets. "It's quite obvious the present system is not working and something has to be done because we do need economic development," said Kellegrew. "They did great work in the past, but we can't live in the past either. We have to move on." The veteran councilor said he is not sure yet what he will be doing on election night this year, but that he will be watching with interest the contests being fought in his neighbouring districts.