Vaters to run for mayor in Paradise

By Mark Squibb

Paradise councillor Larry Vaters is running for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.
“The mayor is the voice of the residents, the voice of the town, and the representative at meetings where important decisions are made,” said Vaters. “And certainly, with a number of tough decisions and key challenges coming up in the future, Paradise definitely needs a strong advocate, and I’m confident I can be that strong voice for Paradise.”
Vaters, who was first elected to council in 2021, holds a Bachelor of Commerce (co-op) and Bachelor of Arts (French major) degrees from Memorial University, and has completed certificate programs in human resource management, public sector leadership, management development and social media and e-marketing.
He has also served on a number of local and provincial boards, and in 2023 was elected to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Board of Directors. Vaters is also a member of the FCM Atlantic Regional Caucus, a member of the Standing Committee on Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development, and a member of the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation.
“I believe those experiences, coupled with my first term on council, and post-secondary education in business and public sector leadership, are certainly valuable attributes for the office of mayor for the third largest municipality of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Vaters. “Paradise is a town in development, and in my opinion, strong local leadership has never been so important. I really feel that a firm and steady hand in the mayor’s seat at a time when we continue to manage some recent challenges that we’ve had, and global uncertainty, is an absolute requirement.”
The mayoral hopeful said congestion along Topsail and Kenmount Roads remains a top concern among residents.
“I fully understand there are traffic flow challenges in Paradise, particularly at peak times,” said Vaters, who added that resolving traffic congestion along Topsail Road and Kenmount Road, will require the intervention of the provincial government. To that end, Vaters said the Province’s recent commitment to building a new interchange connecting Topsail Road to the Outer Ring Road is still in the very early stages and council must continue to advocate on residents’ behalf to ensure they receive the best possible deal. Vaters also wants to see Dianne Whalen Drive extended as far as Kenmount Road.
On the subject of the high school, Vaters said even though the provincial government has promised it, much advocacy work remains to be done.
“Construction has not yet started on the chosen site, I don’t think they’ve determined the catchment area or how many students will attend that high school, or whether the school will include outdoor recreational amenities,” said Vaters.
Traffic congestion around the school will also need to be taken into account, he added.
“It’s an important infrastructure piece that we need here,” said Vaters. “The provincial government has all the cards and has the decision to make about all these things, but I’ll certainly continue to advocate for a high school with all of the items in mind.”
Citing concerns over speeding and illegal ATV use, in conjunction with a growing population, Vaters said he will advocate for an RNC detachment in Paradise.
“In my opinion, it’s essential to community development and imperative to community safety,” said Vaters. “We’ve had some informative discussions to date, and I’m certainly going to continue to advocate for an RNC detachment in the Town of Paradise.”
Vaters also spoke to the importance of growing the town’s commercial tax base, continuing water and sewer projects, and improving town services.
“What we need in the Town of Paradise is a strong advocate, a strong leader, a strong communicator, someone who has no issue with having those difficult discussions with government,” said Vaters.
He added that he would gladly share his own experience as a first term councillor with anyone considering putting their name forward for this election.
Current Mayor Dan Bobbett, as previously reported in The Shoreline, said he has decided to not run for the mayor’s office in the upcoming election, but will likely seek election as a councillor.