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Richard Mell can offer balanced perspective

Richard Mell Richard Mell, co-owner of Grape Escape Winery Tours, and a real estate agent with Sotheby’s, is a busy man. He would like to become even busier.
Richard Mell

Richard Mell, co-owner of Grape Escape Winery Tours, and a real estate agent with Sotheby’s, is a busy man.

He would like to become even busier.

Mell, 38, is  hoping to win one of the eight council seats up for grabs in the October municipal election.

He says he started getting the signatures needed for his paperwork months ago, so the rumours of his running have been “out there.” And in the meantime, he has had many friends reach out to him with a positive response, encouraging him to run.

His decision is not based on issues, although he did make a presentation to council about stand-up e-scooters a while ago, which didn’t go his way.

If anything that showed him his strengths — to see both sides of an issue, from different perspectives, and accept the results.

Mell says he doesn’t have a particular agenda. “I just really think I can contribute, in a way that is reasoned, rational, and respectful, able to look at the pros and cons, work through the process, and understand that the results are the results. That’s what council should be.”

There has been a lot of talk about the transportation master plan, and with his wine tours, that is right up his alley, but his concern is not about his business, it’s about safety, and what’s best  for everyone, residents and visitors.

“It’s a big document, and the biggest issue is infrastructure, and safety on the roads.”

Active transportation infrastructure and how it can be funded without major impact on residents — there is a huge tourism sector that needs to be looked after — all need to be an important part of the discussion, he says. “I’d look at the beneficiaries of that.”

Better cycling infrastructure is essential for residents and visitors, he says — the popularity of cycling is not going away.

During the pandemic, the wine tour business really decreased, forcing him to look at a different way to do business. He learned from that, he says. “We have no desire to increase the volume of our business. We actually decreased the number of bikes, and started looking at making what was already happening better. And we really enjoyed that.”

Mell says he has a good group of friends who have “quite good political debates,” both about what is happening in the U.S. and closer to home. “I think one of my strengths is being able to discuss projects, issues, and problems,” he says.

If someone has a problem, but no solution, “then it’s really just a complaint, and it’s not helpful. Come to me with a solution and we can look at how to move it forward. Then it’s constructive.”

What he is hoping for more than anything is representation on council to “truly represent the community. I have so much respect for people willing to put themselves out there.”

As a member of the town’s equity, diversity and inclusion committee since its inception, he believes residents like to see themselves represented on the council, and people who are talking about what’s important to them.

“I’ve always been a doer, so I thought I’d put myself out there and do the best I can. I’m all about action. If you are going to look at issues and gather information. then you have to act on it.”

As a person with two jobs, the winery tours and selling real estate, it took Mell some time and careful consideration to decide whether he has the time to do what will be asked of him, and do it well.

“I’ve done my research about what’s involved,” he says, including the sometimes six-hour council meetings.

“I sleep about four hours a night, that’s how I do what I do, and I have a good team. Being busy is what drives me. And I manage to fit in what I need to do.”

Mell says he’s watched council work on a number of issues they weren’t able to tackle during the pandemic, and sees them trying to wrap up those issues now. He sees council mostly driven by issues as they pop up, and the next council will have its own issues. “I want to bring my perspective to the table, and do the most good for the most people.”




About the Author: Penny Coles

Penny Coles is editor of Niagara-on-the-Lake Local
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