DEBATE
The Candidates: Incumbent Paul Martineau and Challenger Diane Guimond
The Race: Welfare Commissioner
The Candidates: Incumbent Paul Martineau and Challenger Diane Guimond
The Race: Welfare Commissioner
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Paul Martineau – Endorsed by Rich Girard |
Listen to the 10-11-2011 Welfare Commissioner Debate between Commissioner Paul Martineau and challenger Diane Guimond
[dewplayer:http://www.girardatlarge.com/wp-content/uploads/media/audio/10-11-2011-hour-2.mp3]
Over the years, the welfare budget under Paul Martineau has decreased by nearly 30% and over his decade in office he’s returned more than $1.6 million of those decreased budgets back to the taxpayers. He’s a no nonsense guy who’s gotten the job done in difficult times which could have easily justified a big increase in spending.
His challenger, Diane Guimond has faulted Martineau for being too tough. In fact, she says he’s just not nice and suggests that his policies are too tough. She also asserted in our debate that she could find ways to do even more with less. But, when asked for examples, she was unable to provide even one saying she’d have to look at the numbers. This was a disappointing answer from someone who was a deputy director of the department.
What this race boils down to is style. Martineau believes he’s there to manage the taxpayers’ dollars as efficiently as possible. Guimind believes the Welfare Commissioner needs to be more of an advocate for the poor and should be more sympathetic with their plight and a little more forgiving with the policy guidelines.
In the end, whatever criticism of Martineau’s demeanor, and who knows if it’s objectively true, he’s done an admirable job containing expenses while rebuilding a department devastated by the end times of Susan Lafond’s tenure. Martineau has done a good job and deserves reelection.