Michael Cleverdon
Michael Cleverdon
Candidate for Ward 1 Councillor
Michael Cleverdon, a Ward 1 resident and business owner for more than 30 years, has once again put his name forward for a seat on Stouffville Council.
His campaign centres on improving communication with residents and businesses, slowing residential development to prioritize affordability and infrastructure capacity, and addressing traffic-calming concerns across the ward.
He addressed these concerns and more in a recent interview with 102.9 Whistle FM and Bullet Point News
- Residential Development: Cleverdon seeks a slower, more measured and supported approach to growth, with a focus on truly affordable housing rather than simply increasing the housing supply.
- Infrastructure Capacity: He identified lacking infrastructure as a particular concern, arguing that Hydro One should address grid capacity before development proceeds under provincial housing demands.
- Traffic Calming: Citing concerns in Preston Lake, Lemonville, St. John’s Side Road, and Vivian, Cleverdon said he would meet with affected communities to discuss their options and determine an appropriate response.
- Public Parks: He opposes replacing free public parkland with pay-to-play facilities and referenced Council’s decision to lease parkland for the Ballantrae Sports Dome project as one he opposed.
- Resident engagement: Cleverdon said Ward 1 needs a councillor who connects with residents and business owners.
Why did you decide to run for office?
Cleverdon said he has lived and owned a business in Ward 1 for more than 30 years. He is running because he believes the ward needs stronger connections between its elected representative, residents, and business owners.
He also wants to slow the pace of residential development and ensure the Town grows at a rate its infrastructure and services can support. He said new housing should be focused on affordability rather than simply adding more units.
What is a leading issue facing residents in your ward, and what would you do to address it?
Cleverdon identified traffic calming as the most common concern he hears across Ward 1, citing Preston Lake, Lemonville, St. John’s Side Road, and Vivian.
Recognizing that Ward 1 is geographically expansive and that different communities face different challenges, he said he would meet with residents in those areas to discuss their options and find the best way forward.
“I would sit down with these communities, discuss their option, and find the best way forward to resolve that issue,” he told us.
Given pressures faced by the Town, what does responsible growth look like to you?
Cleverdon described responsible growth as a slow, measured, and thoughtful approach to development. He said existing infrastructure, particularly the electricity grid, is already unable to fully support the community.
He further argued that additional development would put additional strain on the system, suggesting the Town should press the provincial government to ensure Hydro One addresses grid capacity before more homes are built.
“If Queen’s Park is demanding we build more residential homes, we must demand that they direct Hydro One to fix the grid first,” he said.
What decision do you think Council got right last term, and what decision did you disagree with?
Council’s decision involving the permitting of a sports dome in Ballantrae Park is one Cleverdon continues to disagree with.
He said the vote was split, with the Ward 1 Councillor at the time supporting proceeding with the project rather than delaying the decision. Cleverdon argued that the outcome could have been different had he been elected to Council.
Four years later, he said, the park remains fenced and overgrown, representing a loss for the community. Although he supports the concept of a sports dome, he opposes placing it at that location or replacing a free public park with a pay-to-play facility.
“I would never support replacing a free public park with a pay-for-play facility,” he said.
Asked which decision Council had made well during the term, Cleverdon said none particularly stood out. He explained that, as someone who had previously run for Council, he tended to consider how decisions might have been different had he been elected, rather than identifying decisions to endorse.
