There will be a race for mayor here in 2014.
Incumbent Mapleton councillor Jim Curry has announced he will seek the top council post in the election this fall. Curry has been a member of Mapleton council since amalgamation and previously served on Drayton council, a position he was first elected to in 1993.
Current Mapleton councillor Neil Driscoll has already announced he will be a candidate for mayor.
Incumbent Mayor Bruce Whale has stated he does not plan to seek re-election.
“This has been a couple of years in the planning,” Curry stated.
“Knowing that Mayor Whale was stepping down, with my experience on council, which goes back close to 20 years … I feel fairly strongly that I’ve got the leadership abilities to be an effective mayor,” Curry added, noting he has chaired numerous committees of council.
Curry says economic growth is the biggest challenge currently facing the township.
“We have three developers that want to build more units. We have one developer that wants to build a golf course, but at the present time we’re maxed out at the lagoon.”
Curry says he’s looking forward to the upcoming campaign for mayor.
“I definitely respect Neil running and it’s been great working with him side by side since he came onto council. I really like what he’s done.”
Municipal Election Day across Ontario will be Oct. 27.
