Email: [email protected] Website: jeromedowney.caTelephone: 444-4263
About
Jerome was raised downtown (he was born in Toronto - hey, don't hold that against him), attended St. Patrick’s High School and was a football all-star. He went to Mount Allison University and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He works as an Account Executive with a major financial institution in Halifax (where?). His grandfather, Graham Downey, was a long-time downtown councillor who served over twenty years at City Hall. Jerome is also the youngest candidate in this election at age 23 - can he handle the responsibility? Or as the scion of the longest serving alderman in Halifax history, was he built for this job?Goals and Issues
Jerome lists education (no school closures, positive learning environments), recreation (programs for youth), public safety (better lighting, visible police presence, addressing root causes), local economy (local business booster) and community vibrancy (keeping downtown energy levels high) as key issues for his district. Yes, these issues are germane to the area, but everyone is saying this. His website comes across as sound bite-y and doesn't reveal much of his personal take on these issues. Does it look too polished?
For a better impression, listen to Tim's interview with him, where Jerome goes into more detail on all these issues.
On the Record
(From Tim Bousquet's Sept. 25 article "Four way fracas")"Making the decision to run for council---to be honest, it was something I've planned my entire life," says Downey. "I grew up in a political family, it was what I was raised on. I can remember tossing a ball and walking through the hallways of City Hall."Downey went to Mount Allison University on scholarship, and now works as an account executive at a financial institutions downtown.When he gets elected, he says, "the first thing I'll do is clean up our streets." He underscores quality of life issues---replacing parks that have been removed, providing better lighting, more trees, etc. He'll use his council seat as a bully pulpit to oppose school closures in the neighbourhood.Gottignen Street has been ignored too long and "is nothing more than an exit ramp to the Macdonald Bridge," says Downey. "Ultimately, my goal is that when you come off the Macdonald Bridge, I don't want you to know which end of Halifax you're in. It's about addressing the issues and helping the people who need help the most.""It's the 21st century," Downey says when asked about development issues. "I'm pro-development, but I'm not just about chucking high-rises up just to have them, they have to be cohesive. But you can't disagree with a development just because it doesn't make you feel good. It's not about you, it's about what's better for the city." Downey offers that he is "saddened" that the Midtown development didn't get council approval and considers Purdy's Wharf "the most beautiful building in Canada."
Affiliations
He is past-president of the Athletic Association Anti-Bullying Peer Mentorship Program and an assistant football coach at Citadel High School.
