Harry is wild about Barrie
News
Latest mayoral candidate believes he can make a difference
Posted By Bob Bruton
Posted 4 months ago
MARK WANZEL The Barrie ExaminerBarrie's newest mayoral candidate Irtaza (Harry) Ahmed recently stepped into the race for the top job.
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The way Irtaza (Harry) Ahmed tells it, his political inexperience will be an asset in this year's Barrie election.
"You don't have to be political to sit in the chair," said Ahmed, 33, who's running for mayor. "People look at me and say 'That guy is crazy'.
"But I've got to take a shot at it."
Ahmed joins former Barrie-area MPP Joe Tascona, former mayor Rob Hamilton and current city Coun. Jeff Lehman as mayoral candidates in the Oct. 25 municipal election. Mayor Dave Aspden has not registered to run again, or declared his intentions.
Married with sons aged nine, seven and six, Ahmed has lived in Barrie since last year. He grew up in Mississauga and was born in Pakistan.
Ahmed's love of cars is a good fit for his job managing Steve's Auto Collision Centre North and Steve's Towing in south-Barrie.
And it is business, in itself, that led him into the mayor's race.
"There are lots of people who want to do business in Barrie," said Ahmed, "but it is not an open system. In Mississauga, they welcome everyone.
"(Too many) people don't even work in this city."
His political platform includes bringing more business to Barrie, keeping property taxes at their current level or lower, creating more shelters for women and children, and traffic.
"We need more bus routes, especially in rush hour," he said. "Not the stop-and-start (bus routes), but more express service (between two locations, like the downtown and Royal Victoria Hospital)."
Ahmed says he feels a special connection to regular Barrie residents, because he talks with them regularly at work and understands their concerns.
"I know how people feel. I deal with average Barrie citizens every day," he said.
"I think I can do better. I'm out for the city, not for myself."
But Ahmed also knows running for mayor will be a learning experience for him.
He was unaware, for example, that there could be two or three all-candidate debates preceding Oct. 25.
"This race is going to be hard for me, but the city needs somebody different," he said.
Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. is the deadline for candidates for mayor, city council and both school boards to file their nomination papers at Barrie City Hall for the Oct. 25 election.
bbruton@thebarrieexaminer.com
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