Simcoe Grey saw much political change in 2018 – not in the politics but in the politicians. The riding remains true blue but all three levels of government have made headlines in 2018.
Federal
The year began with Conservative Party approval for two Simcoe County residents to challenge sitting MP Kellie Leitch.
Area obstetrician and gynecologist Gillian Yeates and Essa Mayor Terry Dowdall received approval to challenge Leitch for the national Conservative Party nomination for the Simcoe-Grey riding.
Later in January, Leitch announced she would not seek re-election.
In a statement she said she would complete her current term but after that she will return to her career in paediatric medicine.
Hundreds of party members came out to the Simcoe-Grey Conservative Electoral District Association nomination meeting at Stayner Collegiate Institute March 24, where they chose Dowdall as their candidate for Simcoe-Grey in the next federal election over Yeates, Marc Biss and Tim Bulmer – a third and fourth candidate to join the race.
When Simcoe Grey voters go to the polls in October 2019, it will be Dowdall’s name on the ballot for the Conservatives, and given this riding’s history, he will likely be the next member of parliament.
Provincial
Since leaving the Progressive Conservative Party, Simcoe Grey MPP Jim Wilson has not made any public statements or appearances.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson resigned as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation.
The announcement that he was stepping down from his cabinet post to seek treatment for addiction issues was made Friday, Nov. 2.
The following week, Premier Doug Ford told reporters that he forced Wilson to resign as a result of allegations of sexual misconduct, in addition to addiction issues as had been originally stated. Ford said Wilson had gone to rehab.
Although Wilson has resigned from his cabinet post, he is still the member of parliament for Simcoe-Grey.
Municipal
There was some added drama in the 2018 municipal elections when long-time Nottawa councillor Doug Measures announced in July that he would be running for mayor and councillor Janet Horner decided to run for mayor in Mulmur. And, they both won.