Zack Card is currently a Quinte West city councillor and is running to become the city’s next mayor. He says his background as a business owner, combined with his experience on council, has shaped the approach he would bring to the mayor’s seat.
Card says he has been speaking with residents across Quinte West and believes affordability is one of the issues people are most concerned about. He says his private-sector experience has also taught him to look for practical solutions and adapt when circumstances change.
Priorities
Card says Quinte West is a growing municipality with opportunities as well as challenges. Among the issues he identifies are the city’s infrastructure gap, affordability, access to family doctors and the need to manage the municipality’s fiscal challenges.
He says affordability would remain a focus throughout a four-year term, particularly in areas where municipal government has the ability to affect costs. Card also points to infrastructure and health-care access as issues that require continued attention.
What Sets Him Apart
Card points to his experience as an entrepreneur as one of the perspectives he would bring to the mayor’s office. He says running a business required him to be focused on outcomes, finding solutions and building consensus.
Card previously co-owned Wild Card Brewing Company with his brother, and says the business had to adapt significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says that experience involved changing the business model, responding to market conditions and finding new ways to operate.
Why He Loves Quinte West
Card says Quinte West has a number of strengths that give the community a foundation for its future. He points to the people and organizations in the city, as well as the area’s natural assets and major institutions.
He also points to the area’s natural beauty, Trenton Memorial Hospital and Loyalist College as important parts of the community. Card says he believes the pieces are in place for long-term success, while acknowledging that the city will still need to address affordability, infrastructure and other challenges.
Card says his business background and experience on council would inform his approach, with a focus on finding solutions and working with others to address issues facing Quinte West.
