• make Mississauga a centre for entrepreneurship and local job creation

• deliver better, more convenient city services

• leverage the city’s diversity to attract businesses and create jobs

• renew Mississauga’s critical infrastructure

• focus City Council on strategy and results for citizens

• reduce red tape at City Hall

“I will hold property tax increases within the rate of inflation,” Mahoney said, noting he’ll focus on priorities. He will also establish a blue-ribbon committee to ensure value for money of City services.

With City coffers rapidly being depleted and greenfield development with its levy revenue coming to an end, Mahoney says identifying and exploiting new revenue sources is a must. One idea, he says, is to tap into pension funds run by teachers, municipal employees (OMERS) and unions, whom, he notes, are investing all over the globe.

“We’ll encourage them to invest at home,” he said.

Towards that end, he pledges to maintain a stable business-investment climate, create innovation districts and business incubators in key nodes, and establish an “experiential” learning and co-op program to create youth employment.

He’ll also appoint a “bureaucracy buster” to help small and medium businesses — especially those based in Mississauga — cut through red tape and bid on City projects.

Also, drawing on his six years as chair of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Mahoney says he’ll work with Council to implement a safe, fair-wage policy.

Mahoney fully supports building the Hurontario Light Rapid Transit system. “It’s been approved by Council and $15 million has been spent. We’re going to build that LRT.”

The north-south transitway is essential, but Mahoney wants to go further. “We need increased density along all major routes to help fund transit, especially in the east-west corridor.”

And he’s reviving the call for extending Toronto’s subway into Mississauga.

Another of his priorities will be designating City Centre a community development district to attract more businesses and jobs.

“We must bring good-paying jobs to the heart of the city,” he said, noting that not a single office building has been constructed in the area for some two decades.

Mahoney and his wife, Ward 8 Councillor Katie Mahoney, moved to Mississauga in 1969, so he’s aware of the rich history of villages such as Clarkson, Port Credit and Streetsville that comprise the city.

“It’s a big city with the heart of a village. With your help we can build even a better Mississauga,” he told his supporters.