Vol. 10 No. 45
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014
Nov. 2 Daylight Saving Time ENDS When local daylight time is about to reach Sunday, November 2, 2014, 2 a.m. clocks are turned backward 1 hour to Sunday, November 2, 2014, 1 a.m. local standard time instead
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Municipal election is all wrapped up in North Durham Scugog sides with Tom Rowett
O’Connor wins again in Uxbridge
The newly minted council of Scugog Township poses in Palmer Park after sweeping changes brought about after Monday’s election, including Tom Rowett (top) defeating Chuck Mercier for the job of Mayor.
Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor (left) celebrates with David and Anne Phillips as election results were displayed during an event at the Uxbridge Arena Community Centre on Monday, Oct. 27.
BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
SCUGOG: Changes are in store for Scugog Township, as a new mayor and an almost entirely new council was voted in on Monday, Oct. 27. Newcomer Tom Rowett will don the Mayoral chains for the next four years, after defeating former mayor Chuck Mercier by nearly 1,000 votes. After taking an early 10 per cent lead, Mayor Rowett’s support only grew by the end of the evening - ending with a total of 4,661 votes to Chuck Mercier’s 3,687; with 55.83 per cent of voters choosing Mayor Rowett, and 44.17 percent choosing Mr. Mercier. “Being elected feels amazing because
we stepped forward to represent the people of Scugog, and the people stepped forward for us,” said Mayor Rowett. “This truly is a win for all of Scugog.” Moving forward, Mayor Rowett pointed out a need to hit the ground running, and tackle the issues which his campaign platform stood upon. “With the Greenbank Airways permit expiring on Dec. 31, and a new budget nearing, it’s time to analize the information and learn from staff,” said Mayor Rowett - promising that the public would see a new level of engagement and involvement from the Township, and would have the ear and attention of Council. T U R N TO PAG E 4
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DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor maintained her undefeated record in elections, as Uxbridge voted to bring her back to the head of the council bench for another four years on Monday, Oct. 27. With 49.7 per cent of the votes cast, O’Connor won out over challengers Ted Eng (25.77 per cent) and Bob Shepherd (24.51 per cent). “To be re-elected again to represent the people of Uxbridge feels great,” Mayor O’Connor told The Standard. “But, I didn’t do it alone, and I had a great council behind me, and I’m looking forward to working with our new council.”
Going forward, Mayor O’Connor noted that the election process has revealed some areas that the municipality could potentially improve upon. “One thing that I learned through this process was that the township has to do a better job of communicating about large developments. I think we may have missed the boat on a couple of issues.” With voter turnout in Uxbridge Township down slightly as 8,076 residents or 50.33 per cent cast ballots, down from 51.8 per cent of eligible voters in 2010, O’Connor opined that perhaps changes are needed with the way municipal elections are contested. T U R N TO PAG E 4
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