Five questions with Clint Thompson, candidate for Elizabethtown-Kitley in the 2026 municipal election
Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Brockvilleist will be asking the same five questions of all Elizabethtown-Kitley council candidates in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 21, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from candidate Clint Thompson. You can view a full roundup of all our Elizabethtown-Kitley municipal coverage here.
1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?
Right out of high school, I joined the Canadian Navy. I spent five years in the Navy, and when I got out, I worked for Parks Canada. After that, I did a stint at Procter and Gamble, and then eventually I got into the Coast Guard, where I retired from. I spent 32 years with the Coast Guard, and the last 25 were in search and rescue.
I also have four years of municipal political experience in Front of Escott Township, which was eventually absorbed into the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands during amalgamation. I ran again, but lost the election by three votes.
I’ve been retired for six years now. I am a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Masonic Lodge, and I’m also a Shriner.
What inspired me to run was dealing with the Township’s building inspector and planning department having a few problems while doing two additions on my house and building a deck. There were some problems, and I have a lot of questions, such as is there any way we can streamline the process? I think we need to be able to get people their building permits much faster. There’s just so much red tape, and I’m hoping maybe I can do something about it.
2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?
I’m not affiliated with any party. My personal politics is that I just want to help. I want to find a better way to do things in the township. How can we trim the red tape?
Obviously, I’m also interested in the roads. I’d like to see more gravel roads tarred and chipped.
3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?
Number one is roads. They would like to see the roads maintained better.
Number two is the Woods Quarry. Tackaberry Construction wants to expand the quarry, and people are concerned about the aquifer and the water table. I’m very new to [Elizabethtown-Kitley]. I’ve been in the area my whole life, but I’ve only lived in this township for a year and a half, so I’m just hearing about some of these things now. I didn’t know about the aquifer and the Woods Quarry issue until about two weeks ago, so I’m very green in that aspect.
The third issue I’d say is the red tape when it comes to getting a building permit. It’s very frustrating and cumbersome. There’s just got to be a better way.
4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?
Definitely the roads. It’s funny, it’s just roads, roads, roads.
Again, also building permits. Not the permits themselves, but what you have to do to get it done or get it through. The building inspectors in the Township have helped me immensely. I can’t say enough about them because I’ve asked them a thousand questions, and they’re more than happy to help. But there’s just got to be a better way to get through the process.
The third thing is I’d like to see council work as a cohesive unit. It should be very businesslike, very professional, with no negative comments. We’re not all going to agree, but you have to do it in a professional atmosphere.
5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?
I do have four years of municipal experience, and I also bring a willingness to help people.
I haven’t met all the candidates. I’ve met a lot of them, and everybody has a different priority. But I’m just here for the people. I just want to help.