It’s been a long and, dare we say, interesting four-year term for Halton Hills Council. The local politicians have had to lock horns with the provincial government, deal with the rising tide of extremism and fight against one of the worst pandemics since the Spanish Flu. And now, another municipal election is fast approaching.
In the interest of informing the public on what the current members of council plan to do in this October's election, here are some basics.
WHO'S NOT RUNNING
Rick Bonnette - The mayor announced late last year that he will not be running again.
Barring a few exceptions, he said he would like to stay out of the politics of the town after retirement. If he felt strongly enough about a candidate needing support, he said he might help out. Same when it comes to some of the bigger, ongoing issues in Halton Hills.
“I’m still against that (Hwy.) 413,” he said. “Maybe that’s one where I’ll show up at a council meeting and say I hope they’ll continue the fight.”
Ted Brown - The rural councillor also announced this spring that he will not be putting his name forth in the next election.
“By end of this term I will have spend eight years on council. Not nearly as many years as some of my colleagues around the council table, but in that time I was following 35-plus years as a member of the media. It’s simply time for me to slow down,” he said during a spring council meeting.
Moya Johnson - The longtime councillor for Ward 3 made a surprise announcement on .Aug. 22 that she will not be running.
“I have recently been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer,” she said in an emailed statement.” She believes it would not have been fair for her to get re-elected and then resigning for health reasons shortly after, triggering a by-election.
WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR
Ann Lawlor - The Ward 4 councillor has ambitions for higher office.
“I’m very proud to be on a town council that is forward-looking and progressive, and I want to continue that legacy,” she told HaltonHillsToday in June.
“We live in a beautiful community of towns and hamlets that are surrounded by lush countryside. My vision is to preserve that character while celebrating and managing the growth that is coming, and that will bring more prosperity,” her press release said at the time of her official announcement.
Bryan Lewis - The representative for Ward 2 threw his hat in the ring on June 7. He told HaltonHillsToday at the time that he is “not done yet in politics. Twenty-two years (as a councillor) does mean something in terms of overall value and experience.”
“At the end of the day my over-riding desire is to serve my community, and it’s the community I’ve lived in all my life. This is the only town I know, and it’s the town I really care for,” he added.
WHO'S RUNNING FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL
Clark Somerville - The acclaimed councillor for Wards 1 and 2 said he would like to steer Halton Hills in a post-pandemic world.
“We've really seen through the pandemic a huge shift, not just in how we do facilities and with how we do the business,” he said. “I would like to be part of it to be an experienced voice to help as we guide out of the pandemic.”
Wendy Farrow-Reed - The current local councillor hopes to rise to the regional level for Wards 3 and 4.
"When I ran last time, my intent was to win, which I did. And my intent was to do it for at least three to four terms,” she told HaltonHillsToday.
“We're kind of at the edge of some really great changes. And I would love to be part of that.”
Jane Fogal - The longtime regional councillor originally announced that she will not be running again this year, but has since changed her tune and jumped back into the race.
She named a recent council debate over a motion to support gas-fired power plants until greener alternatives are found as her reason for wanting back in.
"We spent two and a half hours arguing about that. And I thought, ‘Well, I wouldn't be able to be part of that conversation if I was retired,’” she said.
WHO'S RUNNING FOR LOCAL COUNCIL
Mike Albano and Jon Hurst - The two men are once again running for Ward 1.
“I've given it probably more thought this time around than previous times. I love the job. I love the interaction with people. I love working with staff and other councillors,” Hurst said.
Albano shared similar sentiments. He said he's running again out of a desire to help people.
"I care for the community. And I listen to people, and I listen to their concerns and address their concerns.”
Bob Inglis - The Georgetown man will carry on running for Ward 4.
“I grew up in the town. I've lived here. My family have been here for generations," he said. "I just want to make sure that I can get my voice heard."
