The political landscape will be changing in Clearview Township as a new council structure comes into effect with the upcoming October election.
Council has voted to reduce the number of councillors from seven to five and redraw the ward boundaries accordingly.
With the upcoming changes, we polled council members to ask if they would divulge whether or not they planned to file when the nomination period opens on May 2.
Some members are understandably undecided at this time, but others are not.
In Creemore, Thom Paterson said he will be putting his name forward to represent the newly formed Ward 2, saying “I’m excited to contribute to the implementation of the changes this Council has initiated and to address the challenges facing Clearview going forward.”
Deputy Mayor Barry Burton has said he will not seek re-election. Burton is retiring and moving north to Burk’s Falls, to the home he has built on the Magnetewan River, and has plans to restore a second boat. “Creemore is a great place,” said Burton. “We’ve become part of the community. We were accepted with open arms but it’s time for us to make a decision.”
“I have no complaints. I enjoyed it for sure. My only wish is that I’d done it 10 years sooner,” he said.
“There are going to be big changes at county [council] too. I know a lot of mayors who are retiring and not coming back,” said Burton.
He said he can think of a number of community members he would like to see run for council, but also hopes there will be some younger candidates, and new residents also.
Connie Leishman told The Echo that she too is retiring from politics, and will take time to focus on maintaining her health.
“I’m really sorry I can’t run again. I wish I had started this business about two terms before I did and then I’d probably still be going because I love it, I love the people, I love change and I just love politics,” said Leishman.
She said she would like to see more women putting their name forward. She and Phyllis Dineen, who has said she is undecided if she will run again, are the only two women on council. They have been involved in an effort to engage more women in politics but Leishman said they haven’t had much interest.
John Broderick said he plans to seek re-election in Ward 3 (Stayner north), which will take in part of the former Ward 6, represented by Leishman.
Doug McKechnie also said he would not be seeking re-election as a ward councillor but is undecided about running for deputy mayor. He said there are a number of other people he would like to see run for the seat.
“I’m going to wait to see who decides to run and hopefully it will be someone I can support and assist in their campaign,” said McKechnie. “The quality that I am most looking for is leadership and team building.”
He said he is encouraging young people to join the race, hoping their fresh ideas would be a nice balance for the newly formed council.
Ward 4 (Stayner south) councillor Robert Walker said he is dealing with some health issues and is undecided at this time.
Nominations for municipal election are open from May 2 until August 19. On Election Day, Oct. 24, Clearview residents will elect five ward councillors, in addition to one mayor and one deputy mayor, who also sit on Simcoe County council.
To run for office candidates must be Canadian citizens 18 years or older, and reside in the township or own land in the township, or be the spouse, and not prohibited from voting under any law.
Nomination appointments can be made with the Clerk’s Office by emailing election@clearview.ca. For details, visit www.clearview.ca and click on the latest news tab.
The filing fee for mayor is $200, and $100 for all other positions. Candidates must not spend or raise funds for their election campaign until their nomination form has been filed.
If there are vacancies after the August 19 deadline, nominations will re-open for the vacant positions only on August 24 to accept additional nominations.