My resignation from City Council

The following is a copy of my speaking notes from last week when I resigned as Mayor of Mount Pearl...


Members of Council, City staff, fellow citizens, ladies and gentlemen:

I want to thank you all for joining us today for this ceremony, and I am very pleased that my fiancée, my parents, and a few of my family members and friends could be here as well. I want to acknowledge the presence of numerous leaders in our community, and in particular I want to welcome two former Mayors of our City – Harvey Hodder and Julie Bettney. I also want to extend my congratulations to another former Mayor, Dave Denine, who will be joining us later. Dave was appointed to Cabinet this morning, this is indeed great news for Mount Pearl. I also want to welcome one of my former Council colleagues, Bernice Miller. I am very pleased that you are all here today.

Effective immediately, I am resigning from my position as Mayor and vacating my seat on the Mount Pearl City Council. I know this comes as no surprise. When I announced my intention to pursue provincial politics, I made it clear that it would not be fair to serve in both elected roles. So, as I prepare to be sworn in as a Member of the House of Assembly on Thursday, the time has come to tender my resignation.

It is difficult to express just how honoured I am to have had the privilege of serving as Mount Pearl’s eighth Mayor. I have always been encouraged by the support I have received from many citizens during my ten years on Council, and I also deeply appreciate the support I have received from my Council colleagues.

Like many of you gathered here today, I truly love this community. Mount Pearl is where I grew up. This is where I’ve studied, worked and played for almost my entire life. I am very proud to call Mount Pearl home, and I am incredibly optimistic about our city’s future.

As I prepared for this evening, I reflected on my involvement with the City of Mount Pearl, and realized that I have been working with the municipality for over half my life! Beyond various volunteer involvements in the community, I signed up for a Counsellor-in-Training course with the Parks and Recreation Department at the age of fourteen. A few months later, I joined the City’s Youth Advisory Council, where I spent the next few years working with Council and staff. When I was fifteen, I accepted my first job with the City, coaching sports at the Reid Centre. I spent the next few years working for the Parks and Recreation Department, before eventually making the decision to run for Council. I’ve seen this community grow, and I have grown with it.

For six years as Deputy Mayor, and for the past four years as Mayor, I have worked hard for the betterment of our community. My promise to you today is to continue to do my best to represent and work for the citizens of the District of Mount Pearl North. I will continue to be a strong voice for the communities I have been elected to represent.

Over these past ten years, I have had the chance to work with three incredibly strong Councils and an amazing team of staff. I have learned so much from all of you, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in my new role. Thanks so much for your encouragement, confidence, and friendship.

I would like to say a few words about my Council colleagues. Randy Simms, you have taught me a great deal. I know the Mayor’s office is being left in extremely capable hands. I have every confidence that you will continue to do the City proud. Ed Grant has been a trusted advisor since my very first Council meeting ten years ago. For 22 years, you have been a great source of strength for Mount Pearl Council. Lucy Stoyles was among the first to congratulate me on my election in 1997, and has been a great friend ever since. John Walsh, who was my high school principal, signed my first nomination papers, and has provided lots of sound advice and encouragement along the way. Paul Lane, who joined our team four years ago, has become a close friend and a great supporter. Paula Tessier, the newest member of our team, has already made a positive contribution to this Council. It has been an honour to work with each of you.

I want to say a very special thank you to each and every employee of the City of Mount Pearl. The citizens of Mount Pearl enjoy high quality municipal services, and this is largely due to the efforts of the outstanding women and men who work for the City. I want to particularly thank the senior management team, most of whom are present this evening. I have great respect for each of you, and I salute your commitment to this City. It has been a great pleasure working with you, and you have taught me so much. I also want to say a very special word of thanks to Mona Lewis, our Executive Secretary, who has worked closely with me in the Mayor’s Office. Mona has made my job so much easier, and has always gone above and beyond the call of duty to support me in my role. She’s a true professional, and I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mount Pearl is an outstanding community. We enjoy a quality of life unparalleled in the nation. There exists a strong community spirit with clean and friendly neighbourhoods. Families are offered a place to lay their roots with the comfort that their children can learn and grow in a safe environment. There are active citizens engaged with our proactive and dynamic local government. Mount Pearl's business sector offers more and better jobs with new growth. Our city is strong and independent. We are a community for all ages, offering respect and opportunities for both seniors and youth.

Our Council team has accomplished a great deal in recent years. I am pleased to report that there has not been a increase in the residential mil rate during my time as Mayor. At the same time, we have made significant investments in infrastructure and maintained quality services. The City developed a new recreation master plan, and we’ve revitalized Centennial Square. Council implemented a household curbside recycling program. We re-focused our economic development strategy, and hundreds of new jobs have been created each year. The City has improved communications with citizens, and we’ve undertaken initiatives to enhance our branding and to strengthen our identity. I have also been pleased to support the establishment of the Youth Action Team, the Citizens Crime Prevention Committee, and the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl. Here in Mount Pearl, we certainly have a lot to be proud of.

This City is well positioned for a prosperous future. We have an experienced Council team that has always put Mount Pearl first. We have a staff team that consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve the public. We have a community filled with dedicated volunteers who contribute so much to enhancing our quality of life. We have a vibrant and growing commercial sector that contributes greatly to strengthening our community. With all of these elements going for us, I am deeply committed to continuing to help build Mount Pearl’s future.

In closing, this is certainly not good-bye. I will continue to be very active in our community, and I look forward to the challenges that my new office will bring. Thank you, Mount Pearl, for the opportunity to serve as your Mayor. It was an indeed an honour, and an experience that I will always treasure.

Thank you very much.

Upcoming Events

Join us for the following events coming up over the next week:

MEET MISS UNIVERSE CANADA - Inga Skaya, Miss Universe Canada will be visiting Steve's HQ this Monday, Sept. 24th,at 2 pm, drop by and meet her.

WATCH THE LEADERS' DEBATE on TV at Steve's HQ this Tuesday, Sept. 25th,at 7 pm.

RUN FOR THE CURE - Join Steve on Sunday, Sept. 30th,at 10 am as he participates in the Run for the Cure to raise money for Breast Cancer research - visit http://www.cbcf.org/

Thank you!

Thanks to the voters of Mount Pearl North for your support.

I am proud to be your PC candidate for the provincial election in October.

It was a good race. My opponent, Keith Cassell, ran a strong, well organized campaign which challenged us to stay ahead, and stay focused.

I really appreciate the dedication and hard work of my volunteer team - without your support, I could have accomplished the goal of being the candidate for Mount Pearl North.

I especially appreciate the efforts of my campaign co-chairs, Janet Browne and Paul Lane, who coordinated the efforts of the volunteers, monitored voter reactions, and kept us moving forward every day.

Now that we have cleared this first hurdle, things will be low-key for a little while as we create a strategy for the second part of the campaign.

I believe strongly in the policies and the approach of the Williams team. And I believe Danny Williams and his PC government will lead Newfoundland and Labrador to claim the prosperity we deserve. I am glad to be part of that team and I look forward to representing the interests of Mount Pearl North in the provincial legislature.

Now let's get set for October!

News release: Kent welcomes Paradise representation

News release - May 28, 2007

Kent welcomes Paradise representation

PARADISE, NL - In his bid to win the Tory nomination for the new district of Mount Pearl North, Mount Pearl Mayor Steve Kent says he would welcome the opportunity to represent part of the Town of Paradise in the House of Assembly if successful in winning the nomination and capturing the seat for the Williams Tory government in the October general election.

Even well before his active involvement in political life in the City of Mount Pearl, Steve Kent was known as an ambassador for youth, a committed community volunteer, and someone who appeared to be destined for a life in politics in one form or another at some stage in his life. It was simply in his blood. However, Kent has always been almost exclusively tied to the City of Mount Pearl, at least as far as any real political or emotional attachment is concerned.

But in a rather ironic twist of fate, Kent will actually be returning to his boyhood roots in representing a part of the Town of Paradise in this newly aligned electoral district.

“In fact, after being born on the west coast of the province in the Town of Stephenville, my family and I lived in the Elizabeth Park area of Paradise for the first two years of my life before moving to Mount Pearl,” says Kent. “Obviously, I spent most of my life attending school and participating in other activities in Mount Pearl, but interestingly enough, Paradise is where it all began for me.”

Kent goes on to say that, particularly during his tenure on Council as Deputy Mayor and more recently as Mayor, the tremendously open and cooperative relationship that has existed between the Town Council of Paradise and the City of Mount Pearl will make representing part of the Town of Paradise a welcome addition and a natural evolution of growth for him both personally and professionally.

“In many respects, those who see the current status of Paradise -- and it’s poised for what will undoubtedly be many years of continued growth and expansion over the next number of years -- are reminded of where Mount Pearl was perhaps some twenty years or so ago,” says Kent. “The similarities are actually amazing. I support a strong, vibrant, independent community of Paradise, and would be pleased to serve as one of the area’s MHAs.”

Mayor Kent goes on to say that there are actually quite a few more political boundaries which cross over into municipal boundary lines as a result of the most recent electoral boundary adjustments. In fact, he notes that Elizabeth Marshall’s new district will actually include part of the City of Mount Pearl, and he says there are some distinct advantages to having this level of more widespread representation.

Kent says that now that there is another candidate declared to compete for the Tory nomination, the race is officially on. He has had a team assembled and ready to go for more than a month now, and plans are well underway to run what he describes as a “spirited and no holds barred” campaign to secure the nomination.

Kent is thrilled with his progress to date, and quickly adds that winning the nomination will be his focus in the weeks ahead.

- 30 -

NEWS RELEASE: Mount Pearl Mayor will seek Tory nomination

MOUNT PEARL, NL - After several days of increased speculation, Mount Pearl Mayor Steve Kent has officially announced his intention to run for the Progressive Conservative nomination for the District of Mount Pearl North.

Mr. Kent has spent almost ten years at the municipal level in Mount Pearl where he has served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, having first been elected to Mount Pearl City Council in the September 1997 municipal election. His announcement today paves the way for what he hopes will be an entirely new chapter in his political career, and he welcomes the opportunity to play whatever role he can in further supporting and advancing the vision of Premier Danny Williams and his Progressive Conservative team.

"There’s no doubt in my mind that Premier Williams fully deserves the almost unprecedented approval rating that he currently enjoys in this province," says Kent. "He has earned the trust and respect of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Premier Williams has both the passion and the ability to enable this province to finally reap the rewards of our substantial natural resources, and to restore the pride and dignity of the people of this province as we rightfully take our place as contributing members of this great country."

Kent says he shares the Premier’s view when he says that, "Newfoundland and Labrador’s time has come."

In announcing his candidacy, Mr. Kent was quick to acknowledge the substantial contributions of the current member for Waterford Valley and Speaker of the House, Harvey Hodder, as he prepares to take his leave from public life after an incredible 38 years of service at the municipal and provincial level.

"In many respects, Harvey Hodder is synonymous with Mount Pearl," says Kent. "He will forever be remembered as one of the pioneers and builders of this great community. Harvey is a man of unwavering principle and a tireless worker. I’m honoured to be in a position to offer myself as a candidate for nomination in the seat that he so proudly held for so many years."

As for his own future, Mayor Kent feels that his decision to run is a result of a number of critical factors, including timing, opportunity, a strong belief in the direction of the Williams government, and confidence that the current Council in Mount Pearl will remain in very capable hands.

Kent feels that he has the skills, the knowledge, and the background to make a positive contribution at the provincial level, and that these skills and abilities will be put to good use as part of the Williams team. As he has done so often in the past, he looks forward to this new challenge with eagerness and energy, and he will continue to work hard to serve the people of Mount Pearl with the same dignity and work ethic that he has continuously demonstrated throughout his past ten years in public life.

Mr. Kent has assembled a strong team of supporters to assist in his bid to win the PC nomination, and he looks forward to representing the District of Mount Pearl North as part of the Williams team in the October provincial general election.