“It’s my passion for the county, my love of municipal politics and knowing that I can help build a secure future for my three sons and their families who all reside and work in the county,” he says.
Hartlen became part of council in 1980 and remained until 1987. He then left for two years and was on the school board. The District 5 councillor returned in 2000.
Initially, Hartlen became a councillor because he had spent some time away from home and seen things happening elsewhere that weren’t happening in Queens County.
“One my goals was to have planning in Queens County, and we achieved that,” he says.
He says he loves the county because it offers everything people could want, such as a national park and beaches.
“There’s all kinds of potential here for tourism and that type of thing,” says Hartlen.
“We’re going through a difficult stage right now with Bowater, and it’s going to be interesting over the next couple of years to see what happens there, but I think things could be worked out.”
If Hartlen were elected as mayor, he says he would like to do what he can to keep young families in Queens County. He says the big start was with Queens Place.
Hartlen also stresses the importance of there being a space to keep seniors in the community.
“There’s land available for that if we contact the right people,” he says.
Hartlen ran a land-surveying business in Queens County for 35 years. Not only has the councillor worked in the county for many years, but he’s also been involved in a volunteer capacity.
He served as a director of the Milton Community Association, village commissioner, member of the Provincial Voluntary Planning Committee and member of the Liverpool Lions Club among others.
Hartlen is a member of the Bowater Mersey Advisory Committee.
“I’ve just been recently appointed to the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) – the assessment board – for a second term. I served there three years ago, was off for a year, and now I’m back on again,” he says.
When he’s not busy with council, Hartlen might be at his sawmill in Milton or he might be playing basketball.
“I hope that I can bring a new light to the county,” he says.
