One of the top reasons Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati wants a final term in office is finishing the new South Niagara hospital.
He says it's been 16-years of work to get that going. "I got the land donated, I'm capital campaign co-chair, in which I'm raising with Harry Oakes, $100-million, within our community, and we've only got another $25-million to go. And, I really hope I'm able to cut the ribbon when the hospital opens in 2028."
He also wants a hospice right beside it.
There's a few things other things he wants to finish. "I was the one who brought GO train service to Niagara Falls, and I want to get it going hourly. There's a number of things I've been very involved with since Day 1."
He says facing cancer and COVID set him back in those goals.
And, he encourages everyone to at least vote, adding people have died for this civic duty. "I don't know what more we can do, it's your civic duty to get out and vote. I do everything I can to encourage people... whoever you vote for, do your homework, do your research, and the decide who to vote for."
He's quite aware of the criticism he faces. "One of the main criticisms is that I've been there for a long time. I'm not sure that's a bad thing, as it takes a lot of years to become really proficient at something, and I've hit that sweet spot."
He adds no matter what decision any politican makes, someone won't like it.
He's running against Councillor Lori Lococo, also Kevin Martineau, Paul Manning and Michael Lucid.
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