Photo from left: Jeff Lehman, Terry Pilger, and Don Smith have put forth their names.
There are now three candidates vying for Muskoka’s top political job—Chair of the District Municipality of Muskoka.
Former Mayor of Barrie Jeff Lehman has thrown his name in the ring and joins recently re-elected Bracebridge District Councillor Don Smith, and outgoing Gravenhurst District Councillor Terry Pilger.
Smith was first elected to Bracebridge Town and District Council in 2014. He won re-election last month, securing the most votes of the five candidates running for the District position in Bracebridge.
Terry Pilger has over 26 years of council experience with Gravenhurst, 17 of which were on the District of Muskoka Council. He finished second of three candidates in his bid to become Mayor of Gravenhurst during the latest municipal election.
Lehman was a city councillor in Barrie between 2006 and 2010. He was elected mayor of the city in 2010 and remained in that position until this past election when he announced he would not be seeking re-election. Lehman also ran for the Liberal Party in the 2022 provincial election but was defeated by the incumbent PC candidate Doug Downey.
Nominations for District chair close on November 15, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. The District chair will be appointed by the incoming council at its Inaugural meeting on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 3 p.m. in the District council chamber at 70 Pine Street in Bracebridge.
The District chair performs a number of duties at the upper-tier municipal level, most notably acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the District Municipality of Muskoka. The chair is also tasked with providing overall leadership on the affairs of council and its committees and acting as a spokesperson for the District on major issues of policy and direction. The chair is also responsible for the District’s external relationships with other organizations and levels of government.
In January 2022, District council approved an annual increase for the District chair position of $2,400. That means for years 1-4 of the new term of council, the District of Muskoka chair will receive $100,730, $103,130, $105,530, and $107,930 respectively, plus benefits.
Anyone over the age of 18 who can vote within the District of Muskoka and is not currently employed by the upper-tier municipality can run for the position. More information about the requirements, here (pdf).
A formal meet the candidates/debate event is scheduled for Monday, November 28 at 3:00 p.m. Jean Polak will moderate the event.
Members of the public, including councillors-elect are encouraged to submit questions that may be considered during the event. The Moderator for the event will be selecting the questions from those submitted. Proposed questions are due to be received by the Clerk by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 24, 2022. You may submit your question(s) in writing by e-mailing the Clerk at [email protected] or by dropping written questions off (addressed to the Clerk) at 70 Pine Street, Bracebridge.
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An opportunity has presented its self in a highly qualified candidate from out side Muskoka to provide an unbiased look at the District. “No old boys club”. Will the sitting Councillor seize this opportunity or will they close ranks and elect someone from with in. It will be a sure sign of Muskoka’s future.
I believe Muskoka District is entering a critical stage. Towns like Huntsville have allowed for development in a real haphazard manner that has destroyed the vision of what they should stand for. Secondly the provincial government has opened the floodgates for development of areas that have in the past been what has made Ontario beautiful. But now towns and provincial government are encouraging the attack on lands that are precious. And that is Muskoka. We need leadership that protects this wonderful area. We do not need leadership that has contributed to the sprawl like Barrie. Councilors need to vote in a leader that has the passion and preservation for the area called Muskoka.