Marai Vying to become Youngest Elected Official in Halton

For Immediate Release

Marai Vying to become Youngest Elected Official in Halton

(Oakville) – Twenty-one year old Paul Marai may not have been alive when two of Oakville’s current Catholic Trustees were first elected but Marai believes that young energy and new ideas is exactly what the community needs.

He is the youngest person running for an elected position in Halton Region.

Born and raised in Oakville, Marai is in fact one of the only candidates to have actually graduated from the Halton Catholic School system.

“I have a distinct advantage in understanding what needs to be improved in our schools, as I have experienced them first hand,” says Marai. “I believe bringing a different, more collaborative approach to the board, where parents, teachers and students have more input into what goes on.”

Paul has been active in politics and as a community volunteer since he was 14 years old. In the last seven years he has been the chair of the Oakville Youth Advisory Committee, member of the Holy Trinity School Council, member of the Student Senate, a reader at Mary Mother of God Parish, the Vice-Chair of the Halton Youth Advisory Committee and a member of the Trafalgar Community Policing Committee.

“At doors across Oakville I have heard that people want change”, says Marai. “They want more communication between their representatives, more technology in the classroom and more accountability with their tax dollars – I represent all of these priorities.”

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For more information contact:

Paul Marai
416-300-0947
paul@paulmarai.com

Marai running for Catholic School Board Trustee

For Immediate Release
August 19, 2010

Marai running for Catholic School Board Trustee

(Oakville) - Paul Marai joined the race for Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) Trustee on Wednesday.

A lifelong resident of Oakville, Paul attended Holy Family Elementary School and Holy Trinity Secondary School. He went on to acquire an Honours B.A. in Economics and International Relations at the University of Toronto.

His family has always been active in Catholic Education in Oakville, his mother is a retired elementary teacher for the board, and his sister is a current teacher in Oakville.

Paul is a small business owner and is an active member of the Oakville community. His past involvement includes being a Member of the Holy Trinity School Council, Chair of the Oakville Youth Advisory Committee, a Member of the Halton Catholic School Board Student Senate and a reader at Mary Mother of God Parish.

"I believe trustees, parents and students are all one team," says Marai. "We are blessed to live in such a beautiful community as Oakville and we must work together to give our kids the best educational opportunities."

Marai is committed to five priorities. He is advocating for:

1. Better Communication between the school board and parents
2. Greater use of Technology in the Classroom
3. A Responsible and Transparent School Board Budget accessible to you
4. Improved Test Scores for Oakville Schools
5. Implementation of an advanced Financial Literacy curriculum

"We need to infuse fresh ideas into the Halton Catholic School Board. The HCDSB must identify characteristics of the most successful school systems around the world and implement what works," says Marai. "I want our children to not only successfully compete against their peers in Ontario but globally. Only with better schools will we have a brighter future."

For more on these policy initiatives and his campaign please visit www.paulmarai.com

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For further information contact:

Paul Marai
416-300-0947
paul@paulmarai.com

Brian Burton announces candidacy for Ward 4 Oakville Town Council position

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Long-time Oakville resident Brian Burton announces candidacy for Ward 4 Town Councillor.

OAKVILLE - July 26, 2010 - Repeated cost increases and threats to the Natural Heritage System threaten to spoil both the lifestyle and landscape of one of Canada's most sought-after municipalities, says Brian Burton, who announced his candidacy today for Ward 4 Town Councillor in Oakville.

"Two of the last three budgets have seen spending increases of 8% and 12%, and the projected budget for 2011 is another 8%." said Brian, a long-time resident of Oakville, "We have to bring spending more in line with the population changes or face serious tax increases."

"It was an eight-year battle to get the Province to turn over 1,200 acres of North Oakville land to Conservation Halton to protect Ward 4 from becoming victim to yet more urban sprawl. It will require constant vigilance to ensure the Natural Heritage System remains intact, does not get turned into a site for infrastructures and does not get nibbled away at the edges as have previous green spaces."

Other issues that concern Brian are improving transparency at Town Hall especially for Oakville Hydro and standing up for the interests of families and seniors.

For the past 8 years, Brian has been a citizens' representative on Committees for Development Charges, the North Oakville Secondary Plan, Biosolids and the mid-Halton Plant Expansion. As a result of his expertise, there has been a substantial increase in the amount and timing of revenue from development charges and significantly reduced operating costs of the sewage treatment plant. He has also been a tireless advocate for issues of concern to Oakville residents; his voice helped ensure the moratorium was placed on the incineration project and helped stop the extravagant plans for a new Halton Town Hall.

About Brian Burton

Brian has lived in Ward 4 since 1989. He has an engineering degree from the University of Toronto. Brian worked as president and executive vice-president for global engineering firms in Asia, Europe, North and South America and across Canada before settling back in Oakville. There he built a successful manufacturing business that provided jobs for 40 people. Brian is also a community volunteer with the Oakville/Burlington Cancer Society and with Oakvillegreen. Brian is now retired from business; he and his wife Diane have two grown children.

For more information:

To learn more about Brian Burton and his platform, please visit his website: www.brian4ward4.ca or www.brianburton.ca

To interview Brian, contact him directly:

• By phone at 905-827-7554

• By email at brian@brian4ward4.ca or brianburton@eol.ca