Meet the candidates running for council in Mulmur Township

Paul Mills – Mayor (acclaimed)
Paul Mills moved to a farm in Mulmur with his wife Linda 22 years ago in order to establish a collection facility for his cattle export company, Canadian Holsteins.
Mills has had deep-seeded roots in the agriculture industry ever since the big city teen came to the area for a summer job in 1963.
He loved the lifestyle of farming and its offshoot industries, beginning his career as Herdsman at Glenafton Farms.
Mills was marketing director for one of Canada’s first embryo transplant facilities, ViaPax Inc., a division of world renowned Rowntree Farms of Brampton. He moved on to their cattle export division and eventually started his own export business in the late 80s. He has fitted, shown and exported prize Canadian dairy cattle throughout Canada, the United States, Central and South America, and Europe.
Mills has coached hockey and ball teams, was a director and president of Honeywood Minor Hockey, and a Dufferin County 4H leader for several years.
He was elected to council in 2003. His first run for mayor in 2006 resulted in an historic one-vote loss. He was elected mayor in 2010.
The subsequent 2010 vote resulted in his being elected Mayor.
Mulmur now has a Code of Conduct for Council, appointed its first integrity Commissioner, has implemented both a Strategic Plan and a 10-year Financial Plan, promoted accountability and transparency by reducing the number of in-camera sessions by nearly 50 per cent, and greatly increased ratepayer involvement.
Heather Hayes – Deputy Mayor (acclaimed)
Heather Hayes is a volunteer, advocate, wife, mother and councillor for Mulmur Township. She has been active in her community since the 1990s, serving on boards and committees such as the Shelburne Library and North Dufferin Community Centre. She is an enthusiastic contributor to Wellies to Wishes, a unique fundraising event in support of the Dufferin Children’s Fund.
As a councillor, Hayes has deepened her knowledge of local and regional communities. She strives to be well informed and fair in her actions, and considers the interests of all the people who live and work in the community. Over the past four years, Hayes has learned the value of patience, preparation and analysis in overcoming challenges and reaching goals.
Guided by Mulmur’s Official Plan and Strategic Plan, she believes council can build on its strengths and grow in the right directions. Pressing local concerns include increased traffic on Airport Road and recreational use of paved roads and unassumed roadways within Mulmur.
Mulmur Township’s small, rural population needs a strong voice to be heard by the county, the province and business interests, professional leaders who can work with a range of people and organizations toward immediate goals and those of the future. Hayes looks forward to providing strong, effective and professional leadership as council moves into a new term.
Earl Hawkins – Councillor
Earl Hawkins is a lifetime Mulmur resident. He and his wife Rhonda operate a beef farm west of Mansfield. They have four children and three grandchildren.
Hawkins believes council’s first priority should always be to protect and safeguard the rights and freedoms of Mulmur residents, and he will continue to strive toward that goal. Issues should be discussed and debated with cool and concise heads, and council must proceed with the best solution that will be fair and just to the majority of the people of Mulmur.
With 15 years of council experience, and extensive committee memberships, Hawkins shows his dedication and loyalty to the residents of Mulmur.
Hawkins’ excellent working relationship and endorsement from acclaimed Mayor Paul Mills will enable Mulmur council to work effectively as a team to resolve current and future issues.
Lynn Hilchey – Councillor
For more than 20 years Lynn Hilchey has been a registered Ontario beef farmer and bookkeeper for the Toronto District School Board.
She is also part of the consulting team for Sustain Ontario, the Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming and Producer for Ontario Fresh, Growing the Business of Local Food.
Hilchey is dedicated to the development of the Mulmur community as a place to live, work and enjoy its amenities while preserving its unique rural character.
She is dedicated to the courteous delivery of quality services to the Mulmur community and will preserve and protect the environment in a manner within the municipality’s means.
Hilchey will strive to provide the Mulmur community with access to social, educational, recreational and health services that, when appropriately utilized will be conducive to the enhancement of quality living.
She hopes to join employees and representatives in performing duties in the best interest of our public with responsibility and fairness and with partiality towards none.
She respects the opinions of others, is a hard worker, loves learning something new every day, believes there is always room for improvement and that when you save pennies the dollars take care of themselves.
Janet Horner – Councillor
Janet Horner and her husband Brian have been farming at Whitfield Farms for 37 years. They are the proud parents of sons Blair and Scott.
She operated Whitfield Farms Catering Service, serving local food to Dufferin County and surrounding area while employing many successful food service and hospitality business.
Horner is currently the executive director of the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance, a network of municipal and provincial representatives, food processors, farmers, farm organizations, post secondary institutions, conservation authorities and researchers dedicated to ensuring food and farming remain an economic driver of the Golden Horseshoe.
She is chair of the Rural Ontario Institute board, a member of the Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance, Toronto Food Policy Council and Sustain Ontario.
Horner is also a small business consultant and coach.
Keith Lowry – Councillor
Keith Lowry believes in Mulmur. He is running for council to invest his passion, skills and ideas to benefit the township.
Lowry and his wife put down roots in Mulmur because of the natural beauty of the township and because it is home to welcoming people with the same values about the land, heritage and teamwork.
Lowry believes people need to work together to build the thriving future that is in the Strategic Plan and to protect and preserve the rural character that is a vital element in Mulmur’s past and future.
Lowry has proposed three focuses for his work as a member of Mulmur council; maintaining basic services, anticipating hot spots and encouraging fresh ideas.
His experiences as a CAF officer, an educator, and a management consultant provide him with an array of skills to bring to the role of councillor. He believes success comes by investing skills, passion and knowledge towards a common, defined goal.
Lowry has learned that knowledge is best gained by listening to people of all ages, backgrounds and points of view.
(Three councillors to be elected)