Gasparetto to run for councillor seat

(Contributed Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Ron Gasparetto filed his papers to run for Tillsonburg council last week, becoming the third person to run for one of six councillor positions.

A long-time resident of Tillsonburg, Gasparetto has been actively involved in giving back to the community for 23 years. He has served on the Tillsonburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation for more than 17 years. He is also a past chair of Habitat for Humanity and has spent time coaching local ringette.

Gasparetto recently retired from a 35-year career in municipal government, primarily in real estate, urban planning, facilities management, and municipal operations.

He follows council meetings to stay up to date on local issues affecting the town.

Asked why he decided to put his name forward to run for council, Gasparetto answered, “I decided to run for council because I believe strongly in public service and giving back to the community that has given so much to my family. Through my career, I have gained extensive experience in municipal governance, budgeting, planning, and asset management. I believe those skills can help council make informed decisions that balance growth, financial responsibility, and quality of life for residents.”

He believes the knowledge he has gained on municipal government and a collaborative approach to problem-solving will be a positive addition to council.

“I believe in listening to residents, making decisions based on facts and sound analysis, and working respectfully with fellow council members to achieve positive outcomes for the community,” he said. “My goal is to help ensure Tillsonburg remains a great place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.”

He sees the big issues facing Tillsonburg over the next four years as managing growth while maintaining the small-town character, ensuring housing affordability, advancing economic development, and attracting new business investment. He also sees continued investment in municipal infrastructure as key, while ensuring taxpayers receive good value for their dollar.