Paradise election call draws plenty of newcomers

By Mark Squibb

The resignation of former mayor Dan Bobbett, the retirement of councillor Deborah Quilty, and a mayoral race pitting councillors Larry Vaters and Patrick Martin against one another has left a number of vacancies around the table at Paradise Town Hall.
But there’s no shortage of residents looking to fill them.
Among them is Phil Rendell.
“I love the town of Paradise, and I wanted to be in a position where I could help make positive change within the community,” said Rendell. “You can count on me that I’m going to be ready to be there to listen to your concerns.”
Rendell has worked in the not-for-profit sector for the last number of years and currently works with Special Olympics NL as a Sport Development and Communications Manager. He holds an MBA in Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Memorial University, a degree in Recreation, and a Certificate in Applied Media and Communication Arts.
Rendell said the town’s infrastructures needs to be upgraded to match a growing population, citing traffic congestion along Topsail Road as an example.
Delinquent use of off-road vehicles and scooters, both on and off the “T’Railway, and speeding, especially in school zones, are also major concerns that Rendell would like addressed.
During the winter months, he can be found most Saturdays at the Double Ice Complex volunteering with the Easter Seals sledge hockey program.
“Working in the non-profit sector for so long, I know about a tight budget, and having to be efficient as you can with the funds and resources you’re given,” said Rendell.
To that end, he is running a ‘Zero Dollar’ Campaign.
“I have not spent one cent on this campaign,” said Rendell. “I have no street signs, no flashy pamphlets. I just have these little, tiny business cards that I’ve printed off on my own printer. And that’s to showcase how efficient I can be with getting the word out there without having to spend money. And I want to bring that same kind of energy to council and try and be efficient as I can while spending taxpayers’ dollars.”
Kevin Power, Associate Dean at Memorial University’s School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, has also put his name forward for election.
Power moved to Paradise in 2012, and over the last decade has coached hockey, soccer, and tackle football.
Within the last year, he stepped away from his coaching duties and found himself with some extra time on his hands.
“I missed being involved big time,” said Power. “And it just so happened that some friends of mine said, ‘Have you considered running for town council?’… I thought about it more, and thought that this would be a different way to give back, as opposed to coaching.”
Believing that both his community spirit and professional skills would make him a good candidate, Power put his name on the ballot.
Traffic congestion, said Power, is a major concern that needs to be addressed.
“We’re putting up more subdivisions, which is taxing our infrastructure even more, and every home has a couple of cars at least nowadays, and yet the entry and exit points in Paradise are the same,” said Power.
If elected, he would advocate for less red tape for businesses, as well as more recreation programing and better transportation options for seniors.
“I know the town has a program where seniors can sign up and get transportation within Paradise that’s completely covered by the Town, which is great, but in Newfoundland and Labrador we have the highest percentage of people above 65, seniors, in the country, and rides within Paradise is great, but a lot of these seniors need to get rides to hospitals and to medical appointments in St. John’s.”
As for the subject of a swimming pool, which has sparked much discussion in chambers following council’s commitment to conduct a feasibility study earlier this year, Power said he believes a pool would be wonderful for the community, but that cost must factor into the decision. He also allowed that more urgent infrastructure projects ought not be neglected for the sake of a swimming pool.
“I know 85 percent of survey respondents said they were in favour of a pool, but coming along with that would likely be a tax increase,” said Power. “People want a pool, they also want lower taxes.”
In regard to ATV and dirt bike usage, Power suggested a system adopted by other towns such as Corner Brook which would allow motor vehicle traffic on certain roads could work well in Paradise.
His father, also named Kevin, served on Placentia town council for 17 years and ran for provincial election in 2006.
Asked what he learned from his father’s time in office, Power said, “to give it your all and have a thick skin.”
Erin Furlong has also put her name forward for election.
“I’ve always felt like I could do some good on council, and it’s a position I felt I could be really comfortable in,” said Furlong. “We need to continue to grow, but without leaving people behind. We need a Paradise that everybody can identify with.”
Furlong previously ran in the 2024 by-election.
“I was on the ballot during last year’s by-election, and obviously I didn’t win, but that gave me a bit more of a driving force to try again,” said Furlong. “I knew back then that I wanted to be on council, and I hadn’t expected a by-election, and so I was always planning to run in this election. I feel like the by-election was a great learning curve.”
You may recognise Furlong from her continued advocacy for a new high school in Paradise. If elected, Furlong said that petitioning for the construction of a new high school will remain a top priority.
“When I started the process, the first thing I did was say that if I was elected as a town councillor, I would still be able to represent the Parents for a Paradise High School Committee as a parent,” said Furlong. “If I wasn’t going to be allowed to be on the high school committee, I would not have run in the by-election. I am thoroughly committed to seeing the process through until the doors open.”
Furlong said that campaigning in 2024 opened her eyes to concerns of residents from all parts of town. Some areas, she said, are still not hooked into the town’s water and sewer system, whiles others live on streets with no sidewalks or shoulders.
“Like many, many people I moved into Paradise, and I moved into a brand-new subdivision, and so I never had any of those issues,” said Furlong. “So, those weren’t things that were ever brought to my attention.”
Heavy congestion along Topsail Road is another major concern that Furlong would like to see addressed.
Furlong chaired the Octagon Pond Elementary School Council for four years, volunteers with Paradise Minor Hockey Association and also volunteered for the Canada Games in Paradise. She works for NL Health Services as a Manager in Mental Health and Addictions for Labrador-Grenfell Health. The job is a mixture of at-home and in person work.
When not working, campaigning, or volunteering, Furlong enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with husband Michael and children Kevin and Calum.
The Shoreline tried to reach candidates Tony Kelly, James Martin and Jennifer Hiscock, but they were unavailable by press time.