Why I’m Running

Experience. Community. Accountability.

A Community Worth Standing Up For

The Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands is one of the most beautiful and unique communities in Ontario. Our lakes and rivers, historic villages, rural landscapes and close-knit communities make this a place we are proud to call home.

But a strong community requires more than pride. It requires good roads and infrastructure, opportunities for local businesses, reliable connectivity, access to services and thoughtful planning that allows our young families to build their futures here while ensuring our seniors can continue to call this community home.

I’m running because I believe Ward 1 deserves a councillor who is present, prepared and accountable.

Someone who attends the meetings, reads the reports, asks the difficult questions and brings your concerns to the Council table with facts, evidence and respect.

And just as importantly, someone who comes back to you and explains what happened — the good and the bad.

What I’ve Seen — and What I’ve Heard

Having served on Council and remained actively involved in Township affairs since, I have listened to residents, followed Council decisions and watched with concern as some important issues continue year after year:

Roads and infrastructure — maintenance backlogs continue to grow while aging infrastructure demands greater attention.
Affordability and municipal finances — residents expect responsible spending, realistic priorities and sound fiscal management.
Roads and infrastructure — maintenance backlogs continue to grow while aging infrastructure demands greater attention.
Affordability and municipal finances — residents expect responsible spending, realistic priorities and sound fiscal management.
Connectivity and economic opportunity — gaps in broadband and cellular service continue to affect residents and local businesses.
Transparency and public engagement — residents deserve to know what decisions are being made, why they are being made and how those decisions affect them.
Planning for our communities — seniors, young families, volunteers, businesses and community organizations all need a Township that looks beyond today and plans responsibly for tomorrow.

These aren’t simply criticisms. They’re challenges — and challenges require solutions.

I believe my municipal experience, professional background and years of community involvement have prepared me to help find those solutions.

Why Now — And Why Ward 1?

I left Council in 2018, but I never stopped paying attention.

Over the past eight years, I have continued to monitor and review council meetings, reviewing budgets and reports, speaking with residents and following the decisions shaping our Township. I’ve seen what has worked, I’ve seen what hasn’t, and I have become increasingly convinced that my municipal experience, professional background and knowledge of this Township can once again make a positive contribution at the Council table.

I also recognize that some residents may reasonably ask why I am seeking to represent Ward 1 when my home is located in Ward 2.

The answer is straightforward: I believe Ward 1 is where I can be most effective and make the greatest contribution at this point in our Township’s future.

I have never believed that good municipal representation should stop at a ward boundary. Councillors may be elected through individual wards, but the decisions they make at the Council table affect all of us. Roads, taxes, infrastructure, recreation, economic development, emergency services and the long-term financial health of our Township do not begin or end at a line on a map.

Ward 1 has its own communities, priorities and challenges, and representing those residents means listening to them, understanding those issues and ensuring their voices are heard. But it also means recognizing that Ward 1 succeeds when the Township succeeds — and the Township succeeds when its communities work together.

I believe Ward 1 is ready for a conversation about what comes next — one that respects our history and rural way of life while remaining open to practical new ideas, responsible change and opportunities to strengthen our communities for the future.

I am not running against another ward or another community. I am running in Ward 1 because I believe this is where my experience, approach and willingness to do the work can make the greatest difference.

And if I earn the trust of Ward 1 residents, I will bring their voice to the Council table while never forgetting the larger responsibility that comes with the position:

To make decisions in the best interests of the entire Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.

Leadership That Listens

Good municipal government starts with listening.

Not just during an election campaign — but every week, at Council meetings and in conversations at the post office, the arena, the fair, the local diner or simply standing at the end of someone’s driveway.

Over the years, residents have spoken to me about the roads that need attention, difficulty finding doctors, unreliable internet and cellular service, rising costs, recreational needs, concerns about development and the challenges facing seniors and young families.

Those conversations matter.

Because good representation isn’t about telling residents what they need. It’s about listening to them, understanding the facts and then doing the work necessary to find practical solutions.

That’s the kind of councillor I was before.

And it’s the kind of councillor I intend to be again..

Listen First. Ask Questions. Get Things Done.

That’s Why I’m Running.

Contact JP Jackson

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