Bronée runs for deputy mayor
Former New Lowell council member Deborah Bronée has filed to run for deputy mayor in Clearview Township in the fall municipal election.
Bronée told The Echo that as of June 30 she will have officially retired from her job at the County of Simcoe allowing her to take on the role, which includes a seat on county council if she is successful in the election.
She says she has been active in the community since losing the election for her ward seat to John Lamers, who said he will not seek re-election. He told The Echo he has enjoyed his term on council and working with residents but he is retiring and has plans to move up north. Deputy Mayor Barry Burton has also indicated he would not seek re-election.
Bronée served on council from 2010-2018 as representative for the New Lowell ward, where she has lived most of her life. She is a long-time volunteer with Sunnidale Winterama, the Cybergnomes, and is a longtime member and current chair of Clearview’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
“I still think I have more to offer to the community and I wanted to take a broader approach on council and I think as deputy mayor that’s the place to be,” said Bronée.
Having worked in social services, Bronée said she has an interest in seeing how some of the county housing projects will come together.
“As a councillor I can see how much is driven by the developers… We’re driving young people out who have lived here all their lives because they can’t find any place to live. It’s really hard,” she said. “You need a mix in order for a community to be healthy.” Bronée is grateful that her two sons have been able to live and work locally and that her grandchildren attend the local public school.
With regards to the municipality, Bronée said she is interested in land use, creating a mix of housing, is in favour of preserving infrastructure and is concerned by talk of closing roads and not replacing bridges. She also sees that the ATV issue keeps coming up.
“If we’re not an inviting community then our businesses won’t be viable,” she said, adding that 14,000 people can’t support the businesses alone.
She said her overall focus is on creating a healthy balanced community that has a mix of engaged citizens who give back by volunteering, saying volunteerism has made Clearview what it is today.
“There are good things that happen in our community but it’s because of a strong volunteer base,” said Bronée.
“I am part of the community. I didn’t go away just because I wasn’t on council,” she said. “I just feel that I have more to give to the community, and I enjoyed being on council.”
As of presstime, Bronée is unopposed for the position of deputy mayor.
Mayor Doug Measures filed early on to keep his seat and is also unopposed so far.
Incumbents Thom Paterson and John Broderick have filed for their respective wards, 2 (Creemore area) and 3 (Stayner north). There is a contest for Ward 4 (Stayner south) between Dave Witzke and incumbent Robert Walker, and newcomer Marty Beelen has filed to run in Ward 5, which includes New Lowell and Brentwood areas.
In the school trustee race, Brandy Rafeek has filed for Simcoe County District School Board rep, Shawn Cooper has filed for Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board rep, and Eric Lapointe has filed for French Public School rep.
The nomination deadline is August 19 at 2 p.m.
