Meet Matt Lamarche.
A husband, father of three, and longtime resident of Chatham-Kent running for Council in Ward 2.
I'm a neighbour. I'm someone who has watched, like you, as the day-to-day services we rely on — our roads, our drainage, our community supports — slowly slip further down the priority list.
My background is in agriculture. I hold a diploma in Agriculture, a degree in Ag Business, and a graduate diploma in Seed Science and Technology, and I've spent the last 20 years working in the Ag industry right here in Chatham-Kent. That experience has taught me the value of hard work, practical problem-solving, and supporting the industries that drive our local economy.
I didn't grow up on a farm, but working in agriculture has given me a foot in both worlds. I understand the concerns of rural residents who depend on strong infrastructure and reliable services, and I also understand the perspectives of those in more urban parts of the community. That balanced view — seeing both sides of the fence — is something I think Ward 2 needs at the Council table.
Raising three kids in this community has made one thing clear: every dollar matters, and every decision Council makes shows up somewhere in our daily lives. That's the lens I'll bring to the council chambers.
Ward 2 needs a councillor who will do the homework, ask the hard questions, and tell residents the truth — even when the answer is complicated. That's the kind of representation I'm running to provide.
If we get the basics right — strong infrastructure, responsible spending, practical support for our farmers and small businesses, and honest communication — Chatham-Kent stays the kind of place our kids will be proud to call home.