Four county councillors are seeking the warden’s post in the upcoming county election. The candidates announced their intention to seek the job at the county council meeting Nov. 29.
Incumbent Warden Chris White officially announced his intention to seek a second term for the top political position that pays more than $84,000 a year. The term would be for two years.
Don McKay, Gordon Tosh and Shawn Watters will also be seeking and lobbying for the job leading up to the Dec. 14 council vote.
Tosh has been in local politics for the past 20 years, having served on Eramosa council up until amalgamation. He took a run at the seat against White in the last election two years ago.
Tosh said the reason he is running is to set up a separate agenda for council to work in conjunction with its five-year plan for basic services like bridge and road work.
“We’re at a point now where we’re looking to get into things like economic development, safe communities and active transportation,” he said. “We need to have a complementary plan.” Tosh sees the three as a way to augment what the county is already working on.
He blames a lack of council discussion on the recent controversy involving the library board and its decisions on the Aboyne and Fergus libraries.
“If we had a few more discussions in council these issues may not have gone the way they did,” he said. “I’d like to sit down with the whole council.”
Tosh said he has the time to take on the warden duties, which he considers “a full-time job.” Noting his work as chairman of the county social services committee, which works closely with the City of Guelph, Tosh said the county has to “reconnect” with the city on services provided out of Guelph.
Watters, in announcing his candidacy, said his main platform in seeking the position is better communication with residents and partners.
“I’m a team person,” he said. “The thing we have to get better at is communication, communication, communication.”
Watters said it is essential the county communicate its work and ideas with residents to keep them up to date.
“We need to spell that out to the public … I’ve been chatting with a lot of people and received a lot of support,” he said of his back room campaigning leading up to his announcement.
Watters currently heads up the county planning and land division committee.
McKay has served two years as a county councillor.
“It’s been a fantastic two years coming in as a rookie,” he said of the experience.
“It must be the air on this side of the room,” he joked of the announced candidacy by himself, Tosh and Watters, who sit beside each other at county council table.
McKay, who worked for Environment Canada before retiring, said the experience has given him knowledge of how to deal with issues on an international and national level.
“We’re going to have to deal with a large number of agencies to move our agenda forward,” he said.
Among the issues McKay considers essential is the county economic development strategic plan, which could include working on attracting businesses from outside the province. The candidate said the county services tied together with a new mandate on attracting business should provide ways to keep the county strong and sustainable and provide residents with “good valued services.” He added, “It think it’s important we have a person who is knowledgeable.”
McKay, who heads up the solid waste committee and is a member of the economic development committee, said he has attended meetings of other county committees to learn about what they are doing. McKay said, if elected, he would work as a full-time warden.
White said he was honoured to serve as warden for the past two years.
“The question is why do I want to run again and the answer is I have things I want to finish,” he said of seeking a second term.
Among his goals are keeping taxes down through a budgetary process that starts early, improving the working relationship between the county and Guelph on services provided by the city, working on improving infrastructure, and securing provincial and federal grants.
“This job requires commitment, partnership and hard work,” he said.
Watters also indicated an interest in seeking chairmanship of the administration, finance and personnel committee along with current chairman John Green, who is seeking another term.
Information, heritage and seniors committee chairman Mark MacKenzie is seeking a second term, with Watters also expressing an interest.
The planning committee chairman position has Watters, Lou Maieron and Bruce Whale seeking the post.
Maieron has also expressed an interest in running for the post of chairman of the police services board along with Ray Tout. Lynda White, who has chaired the board for five years, is seeking another term.
