Before the Ballot- with Ward 15 Councillor Candidate Jeff Yaeger

Welcome to this instalment of Before the Ballot- with Ward 15 Councillor Candidate Jeff Yaeger

What motivated you to run for council, and why do you believe now is the right time for new leadership in your ward?

I grew up in a small town, Elmira, where a strong sense of community was part of everyday life. That same feeling is what drew my family to Waterdown in 2013. Since then, our community has changed significantly, and many residents feel that decisions affecting Waterdown and the rest of Flamborough are increasingly being made without enough local input.

Through conversations across the ward, I’ve heard a consistent message: people want a stronger voice in the decisions that shape their community and better value for the taxes they pay. I’m running to help restore that local voice and ensure residents are meaningfully represented at the decision-making table.

Every ward has its own unique challenges. What do you believe are the top three issues facing residents in your ward today, and how would you address them?

The most consistent concerns I’ve heard from residents are traffic, road conditions, and construction impacts. Growth and construction are necessary, but the way projects are planned, coordinated, and communicated has created unnecessary frustration. Beyond Ward 15, there are larger issues which affect us, when it comes to budgeting and allocation of resources.

I would begin to look at WHY these problems are occurring. Let's use the current construction going on for an example. When traffic on Dundas was reduced to one lane repeatedly at Avonsyde, Spring Creek, Pamela, and Burke, it was causing chaos. Then Skinner Road was closed, which resulted in all the residents South of Dundas having to funnel through to Spring Creek to get home. After multiple emails and phone calls in which responsibility was passed from one department to another, I finally was able to meet with a fellow from Construction Services. As we spoke about the congestion on Dundas St. and opening the lanes back to 2 (which he took care of and we are REALLY grateful), he was not aware that Skinner Road had been closed. In this case, the problem was not the reduction in lanes, it was the lack of communication and an effective feedback loop. Everything is not going to run perfectly, however when things are not working, we as a community need to be able to have our voices heard and, if necessary, actions taken in a timely manner.

Municipal government often requires balancing competing interests and difficult budget decisions. How would you approach making tough decisions at City Hall?

Everyone has different ideas on priorities and their value to the community. The passion that residents have for issues depends on the level that it affects their lives. I learned a long time ago from a gentleman at Dupont Chemical, that when you are deciding on the importance of issues, you need to have the backing of EVERYONE who has a say in the decision. In order to do so, all parties have to come to a point where they can live with the decision. Some will love a proposal, some will be totally against it. The goal is not to get just enough support to pass the proposal: it is to modify the proposal, whether it be the cost, the time, the scope, or details, to the point where everyone making the decision can say "I can live with that".

Having said that, I realize we are not in an ideal situation where the interests of Hamilton as a city may not align with what we want for our community. The important thing, as I see it, is that your voice is heard on each decision, the results have to be communicated to the our community and provide the reasons behind those decisions.

What experience, skills, or perspective do you bring that distinguishes you from other candidates seeking the same council seat?

My career has spanned multiple industries, from manufacturing to financial services to software, giving me a well-rounded understanding of different perspectives and challenges. Over the past 20 years, I’ve progressed from Business Analyst to Senior Product Manager, working in areas such as healthcare, cybersecurity, environmental compliance, and social media technology. Throughout this time, I had the opportunity to work closely with large organizations who used our products, such as Royal Bank, US Bank, Facebook, and Bank of America, where I was directly responsible for managing their enhancement requests. The challenge throughout was balancing what each customer wanted, while maintaining the purpose and direction of what our product was designed to do.

Across all of these roles, my strength has been asking the right questions—understanding not just what needs to be done, but why. I focus on bringing people together, challenging assumptions, and finding practical, well-informed solutions. That cross-industry experience helps me think differently and avoid “one-size-fits-all” approaches to complex problems. In addition, I have been asked to speak to Certificate in Product Management class for the last 5 semesters and I love sharing and hearing different perspectives on ideas and challenges.

What is the best way for voters to contact you and/or learn more about you?

Residents can reach me directly by email at jeffyaegerward15@gmail.com or by phone at 519-497-5569. To learn more about my professional background and how I work, I encourage people to visit my LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaegerjeff/ and review recommendations from colleagues and partners.

Thank-you Jeff for engaging with Hamiltonians on The Hamiltonian!