Screenshot
Angela Grogan is running for mayor of Port Hope, bringing a background in teaching, human rights advocacy, real estate and small business. She says her interest in politics grew from a long-standing focus on people’s rights and how systems affect different members of a community.
Grogan says her work as a teacher and union member included sitting on a human rights board and advocating for students with disabilities. After moving to Port Hope, she says circumstances in the community led her to examine local issues more closely and consider them from a political perspective.
Priorities
One of Grogan’s primary goals is addressing the financial pressures facing Port Hope residents, particularly property taxes and other user fees. She says she would look at municipal spending and identify areas where money could potentially be saved.
Grogan says another part of her approach would be finding ways to create revenue and attract businesses to the community. She says Port Hope has a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances and that municipal decisions should account for residents across that spectrum. She also says she wants to look at inefficiencies while being willing to consider new approaches.
What Sets Her Apart
Grogan says her background and lived experience are what distinguish her from the other candidates running for mayor. She points to her experience in teaching and real estate, as well as her history of operating businesses, as different perspectives she would bring to the position.
Grogan also says she has experience running a car-hire business in Barbados and later operated a Caribbean grocery store in Toronto while teaching. She says those experiences exposed her to budgeting, negotiation and working with people from a broad range of backgrounds.
What She Loves About Port Hope
Grogan says Port Hope has become home and that her connection to the community is an important part of her decision to run for mayor. She says she wants to remain visible and approachable while working full-time in the position if elected.
Grogan says she understands residents will have different priorities and that not everyone will support her campaign. Her stated goal is to contribute to Port Hope through what she describes as practical work on the town’s development, finances and social and economic issues.
