A number of candidates have filed this week to run in the fall municipal election in Clearview Township leaving only one candidate unopposed.

Barring any last minute nominations, Ken Walker will be acclaimed in Ward 4, the area including the southern half of Stayner.

Walker grew up on Walkhavern Farm, located on Airport Road and now operated by his brother Collin and his family. He attended elementary school in Creemore and high school in Stayner.

At an early age Walker knew that farming wasn’t the career path he was looking for. He said the only time he left the farm was to go to school, church and 4H.

“I wanted more. I wanted to see more,” said Walker.

His first job off the farm was at Hoffman’s Meats, where he worked part-time, while continuing his chores on the farm. At Hoffman’s, he began learning the butcher trade before going to work at the IGA in Stayner, where he completed an apprenticeship through Georgian College.

Those first professional opportunities led to a 28-year career as a meat-cutter at Costco, from which he retired in 2022 at the age of 58 after having managed the opening of the Orillia store.

During his Costco career Walker worked for eight different stores, including Kitchener, where the family purchased a home. After 17 years it was time to move home to Clearview Township.

“My heart was always here,” said Walker. “I always knew that I’d end up back here.”

Having moved home in 2017, Walker said he was asked about running in the 2022 municipal election.

“I said I’m not quite ready because at that point I had just retired,” said Walker, adding that he was instead appointed to the committee of adjustment – a quasi- judicial body that hears applications for minor variances to the zoning bylaw. There he became familiar and comfortable with committee work.

He said his approach is to take the time, talk to the people, listen and return every phone call.

That is why he is committing to distributing election signs and knocking on doors, even if he doesn’t have an opponent.

“It’s to show people that I’m going to work for it,” said Walker.

He said his priorities include building infrastructure and recreation facilities in preparation for the growth that is planned for Clearview Township by initiating fundraising and creating a blueprint.

Walker’s politics could be described as fiscally and morally conservative.

“My father, he was a really good Christian man and at the end of the day, when I make a decision I want to make a decision that my father would be proud of,” said Walker.

Ward 4 councillor Robert Walker (no relation) announced in May that he would be retiring from municipal politics after serving 35 years as a representative for the people of Stayner.

Nominations close Aug. 21. The Echo will have continued election coverage until voting day on Oct. 26.