It was like a Rotary gathering — a yard packed with some of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s biggest movers and shakers, but this time it was a different message.

This time it was politics.

Supporters gathered Saturday afternoon at the Line 6 hobby farm of mayoral candidate Vaughn Goettler and his wife, Lauren, to celebrate and support his candidacy for lord mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Addressing a crowd of business owners, investors, longtime residents, realtors and newcomers, Goettler outlined a platform centred on transparency, responsible growth and restoring confidence in municipal government.

The speech drew repeated applause throughout the afternoon, particularly when Goettler pledged to serve as a full-time mayor and said his decisions would be guided solely by what he believes is in the community’s best interest.

Goettler spoke of what he sees as some of the biggest issues facing Niagara-on-the-Lake, including the possibility of amalgamation, development pressures and what he described as the need for a stronger official plan.

He argued the town’s planning policies have become too fragmented through years of amendments.

“A builder will come into town … and they’re going to drive a Mack truck right through all the wiggle room we have in our official plan,” he said.

“We have to tighten it up, and we have to learn how to say no. We can’t pave over our agricultural lands. We can’t pave over our green space like the Wilderness. We can’t build hotels when we don’t need them, when we should have seniors’ residences instead.”

Goettler also said protecting Niagara-on-the-Lake from amalgamation would be a priority, arguing the municipality needs leadership willing to stand up to the province and advocate for the town’s interests.

Transparency was another central theme.

“There’s not going to be any secrets. There’s not going to be closed-door meetings. There’s going to be absolute transparency under my leadership in this town,” he said.

“You will know the state of the finances. You will know what’s able to be done and not able to be done, and how we’re going to pay for it.”

He also pledged to make council voting records easier for residents to follow.

“Half the time, if you try to find out who’s voted for something in this town, you have to go back and watch videos of meetings to see if you can catch a hand being raised,” he said. “I will make sure that we have an absolute record of who voted for what, and you are going to be able to hold us on council accountable for those votes.”

Goettler said he is seeking office because he wants to serve the community, not because he needs the position.

“I’m not doing this because I need a paycheque. I’m doing this because I love the town,” he said.

“I’m not doing it for the fame or fortune. I don’t care about titles. I don’t care about the money. I care about making a difference for the benefit of this town.”

The remarks prompted one of several lengthy rounds of applause from supporters.

He also said residents can trust that his decisions would not be influenced by outside interests.

“I am not conflicted,” he said. “I don’t have people I’m indebted to, whether it be in the development industry, the winery industry or the hotel industry. I don’t owe anybody anything, so you can know that when I vote … it will be for the benefit of the community, not for the benefit of a few.”

Another of the afternoon’s biggest ovations came when Goettler promised to serve as a full-time mayor if elected.

“I was happily retired,” he said. “People said, ‘Well, you’re going to give all that up?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I am. I’m going to be your full-time mayor.’”

Toward the end of his speech, Goettler called on residents from across Niagara-on-the-Lake to move beyond divisions between Old Town, Virgil, Glendale and the agricultural community.

“I actually think we have a problem as a community with being divisive,” he said, arguing that residents too often view issues only through the lens of their own neighbourhoods.

He said protecting the town’s heritage means protecting more than historic buildings.

“Heritage isn’t about a building. Heritage isn’t about one community,” he said. “Heritage is about everything we have — our agricultural lands, our towns, our buildings.”

He urged residents to “stand together and stand strong” on issues ranging from development and farmland preservation to transportation and health care, adding that he wants to bring all parts of the municipality together under a common vision.

Goettler ended his speech by asking supporters to volunteer, donate, display campaign signs and encourage others to get involved.

“It’s time for a change,” he said. “I plan to be that change.”

editor@niagaranow.com