Windsor's rookie city councillors are eager to learn

The newest members of Windsor City Council all say they're eager to learn. On Thursday, city administration held an orientation session for the new term of council. Four of the people who've been elected have never held municipal office before. I'm just excited. It feels like a big responsibility, but I do feel like I'm ready for it. I'm ready to hit the ground running. It's funny because I feel like I... Swung directly into work mode after election day. I've actually already sort of opened up a bunch of case files, I guess, from residents who have messaged me about different issues they're hoping that I can help them with. Along with Ward 1's Darcy Renaud, Windsor's rookie councillors include Ken Acton in Ward 5, Jeremy Renaud in Ward 6, and Mark Masanovich in Ward 10. Ken Acton, who teaches architecture at St. Clair College, says he's looking forward to building rapport with city administrators. In the end, people work with people, and you have to have the ability to negotiate, and you have to have the ability to work together as a group towards a common goal. So I think the idea of culture is extremely important. Meanwhile, Jeremy Renaud has a long list of items he wants to accomplish for Ward 6 over the next four years. Top of the list is seeing the completion of the Riverside Drive Vista Improvement Project. That's the long-term enhancement plan for Riverside Drive East, which began in 2004. It's been coming along for a little bit, and I'd selfishly love to be the councillor that would finish that project, move it along so that we can focus on other initiatives. Mark Masanovich is no stranger to municipal work. He's currently employed as manager of facilities for the town of LaSalle. Here in Windsor, he says his priority for Ward 10 is infrastructure. I know downtown's the heart of the city, but I like to call Ward 10 the hub of the city. So if you look at a map of the city, you know, we connect more wards than any other part of Windsor. We are the middle of the wheel. All of the infrastructure runs through Ward 10, and a lot of it needs improvement. The new Windsor City Council, including Mayor-elect Fred Francis, will have their ceremonial first meeting on Monday. Dawson Chen, CBC News, Windsor.