Christine Starzomski
Christine Starzomski is running for Councillor in Ward 4 in Sault Ste. Marie.
Christine Starzomski (she/her) has professional experience in several management roles, including retail management, project management, and human resources management. She has also worked in the healthcare industry, where she gained an understanding of the limitations placed on local healthcare by the provincial government.
Why are you running for this position?
I want the residents of our city to feel heard and respected. Many of the expensive decisions made in the last few years have diverted millions of dollars of federal funds to vanity projects, when they could have been used to upgrade municipal services.
What do you love most about your community?
I have lived in Sault Ste. Marie almost my entire life. The combination of people, nature and the community is something I feel is unique to this city.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your municipality right now?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing Sault Ste. Marie is our struggling local economy. We need to attract new businesses, create stable, well-paying jobs, and diversify our economy so we aren't so dependent on a few major employers. A stronger economy would help us address many of our other challenges, including poverty, homelessness, aging infrastructure, and the increasing financial burden on taxpayers.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
If elected, one of my priorities would be to create a municipal dashboard that gives residents a voice between elections. This interactive tool would allow residents to track road repairs, municipal projects, spending, and service improvements, while providing feedback on city services. My goal is to make City Hall more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves, not just during elections, but throughout the entire four-year term.
What is one thing you would like to see your municipality do differently?
I would like to see our municipality become more proactive rather than reactive in its decision-making. Too often, we wait until problems become more expensive and difficult to address. I believe we need better long-term planning, more thorough research before major decisions are made, and greater transparency and public consultation. We should be making decisions that benefit residents today while considering the needs of the next seven generations.
What does good local government look like to you?
Good local government is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves. It listens to residents, makes informed decisions based on thorough research, and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. It encourages public participation beyond election time and plans for the long-term needs of the community. Above all, good government puts the interests of residents ahead of personal or political interests.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would invest the $1 million in economic development, specifically attracting small and medium-sized manufacturers of mining equipment and supplies to Sault Ste. Marie. I would use the funding to help attract businesses, identify opportunities to use locally produced steel, and support the creation of stable, well-paying jobs. My goal would be to turn a one-time investment into long-term economic growth that strengthens our tax base and helps fund better municipal services for years to come.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
I believe disagreements are an opportunity to learn and see issues from different perspectives. I approach them by listening, asking questions, and trying to understand the reasoning behind someone else's position. I'm not afraid to change my opinion when presented with new information or evidence. We don't have to agree on everything to work together, and I believe finding common ground and focusing on solutions is far more productive than pointing fingers or assigning blame.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Throughout my career, I've worked in a variety of industries, often taking on leadership roles where I had to learn quickly, adapt, and solve problems. Those experiences taught me that good leadership isn't about having all the answers, but being willing to listen, learn, and make difficult decisions. I believe more women in local leadership bring valuable life experiences and different perspectives to the table. I also think it's important for younger women and girls in our community to see that their voices matter and that they, too, have a place in shaping our city's future.
What is something about you that you would like voters to know that they might not learn from your campaign platform?
Sault Ste. Marie has been my home for most of my life, and I've spent my career working in a variety of fields, including retail management, customer service, healthcare, financial services, automotive sales, and business operations. These experiences have given me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and better understand the challenges facing local families, workers, and businesses. I've often found myself in situations where I had to learn quickly, adapt, and find solutions, and I've never been afraid to ask questions or take on a challenge. I never imagined myself entering politics, but I care deeply about this community and its future. I'm not looking for a political career. I'm simply an everyday resident who believes we can do better and wants to help make that happen.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: @cstarzomski
Tiktok: @humanmegaphone
Website: christine-starzomski.squarespace.com/
