Mulmur councillors run for mayor, deputy mayor

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It appears the general consensus in Mulmur is that council has a good thing going but this fall there will surely be some repositioning as two councillors are challenging the mayor and deputy mayor and four newcomers are vying for three council seats. 

Nominations for the municipal election close at 2 p.m. this Friday, so with the exception of any last minute additions, the ballot is set. 

At a recent council meeting, resident Ross Bailey asked during question period, “Why has this council decided to destroy itself?”

Council members have had a relatively harmonious term and candidates say they are positioning themselves based on personal goals and potential contributions to the community. 

The mayor and deputy mayor have the added duty of sitting on Dufferin County council, where those stepping up to run for mayor and deputy mayor feel they can apply their expertise.  

Janet Horner has decided to run for mayor after her first term as councillor, saying it has been a goal of hers for a while now.

“I’ve had what I feel is an excellent learning experience in my first term. I’ve learned so much about how things work and how things are connected, and how they aren’t some days,” she said with a chuckle. “I think we have had a very good model as a council. I think we have worked well together. I think we’ve accomplished some things and held the line when we had to and so I feel very positive about my first term. I also feel though that I have more to offer.”

She said as executive director of the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance she has a good knowledge of land use issues and provincial policies, which are linked to the largest issues facing Mulmur.

Horner said the retirement of her brother-in-law Terry Horner, Mulmur’s CAO of 41 years, created an opportunity for her to run for mayor. She said the optics wouldn’t have been good if she were elected mayor while a family member was head of staff.

“He was acclaimed last time but I guess I’ll make him work for it this time,” she said with another chuckle.

Horner has, over the term, reduced her involvement with a number of outside agricultural committees in favour of council related initiatives – the Niagara Escarpment Commission, economic development, community events, including the Authors in the Hills event.

“I believe in people power and I think we have such talent in Mulmur and lots of it’s untapped. Because we are so tiny, we can’t afford for staff to run everything a township needs to provide,” said Horner.

“I’m ready… If I don’t get in, the way it’s a double knock-out, I will be saddened because I have really enjoyed my time but if I don’t take a chance I’ll never know, will I?”

Horner said she didn’t know Mayor Paul Mills would be running again. 

Mills told The Echo, it’s true, he wasn’t planning on running again but many people encouraged him to do so, and with new staff at the township and expected turnover at county council, he decided to run.

Mills has been on council for 11 years, including two terms as mayor and one term as county warden, and said there is a need for experience and leadership at the table. 

With the change in provincial government, Mills said the biggest thing in “the unknown”. They don’t know the status of provincial policy around the greenbelt and there is the possibility of more downloading to the municipality.

“What people forget is that we are taxpayers also and we make decisions based on what is good for the majority of residents,” said Mills. “I learned a long time ago, you can’t please everyone.”

Horner filed on May 4 and Mills filed on May 8.

Councillor Keith Lowry is running for deputy mayor, saying it has been his plan for four years, an ambition he developed while chairing the planning advisory committee. 

“After four years on council I feel that I have a good grasp of how municipal councils operate and I feel that all municipal councils in the province are going to be looking at the same issues,” said Lowry. 

He said he also chaired the committee that developed the township’s strategic plan, which resulted in regular town hall meetings, strengthening communication between council and the community.

Lowry said he applied the strategy of working from the top down to make progress on the approval of the township’s Official Plan and respond to the proposed expansion of the Greenbelt, especially the limit on growth and the tax implications for Mulmur.

“I believe that the skills and experience I have, particularly my experience in government bring added value to council at a time when we are going to be dealing to an increasing extent with initiatives out of the provincial government,” said Lowry. “I also believe my focus on planning – providing better planning for Mulmur’s future – is key to Mulmur retaining its leadership role.”

Earl Hawkins is also running for deputy mayor for the first time. The 23-year council member was appointed deputy mayor two years ago when Heather Hayes resigned. He said he has been interested in the role of deputy mayor for some time and feels that with the retirement of the CAO, there needs to be someone experienced at the table. Hawkins said local knowledge of the municipality and its history is a real asset at the table. 

When Hawkins was appointed deputy mayor, Greg Lloyd was appointed to his council seat. Lloyd told The Echo, “I have enjoyed [my] time very much, especially working with such a wonderful staff and council. However, due to my current work commitments I do not have the time that would be necessary and will not be running.”

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