Editor's note: OrilliaMatters has asked council candidates in neighbouring Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Severn townships to provide a synopsis of why they are running in the Oct. 24 municipal election. The following was submitted by Glenn Harrington, who is running for council in Ramara Township in Ward 4. For more election coverage — including candidate profiles and other election news — visit our 2022 municipal election page by clicking here.
*************************
I’m Glenn Harrington and I’m excited to be running for Ramara Ward 4 Councillor.
I have long standing roots in our broader community having been raised on a family farm just north of Brechin and attending Foley Separate and ODCVI in Orillia. Subsequently attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1985 and am a Professional Engineer.
I worked in Automotive Engineering primarily for General Motors until 2008 when I founded a custom furniture business (The Wood Commission), with a shop in Toronto and a commercial building under construction in the Ramara Industrial Park (at 2596 Harrigan Dr.).
There is significant growth planned for Ward 4 with the Brechin subdivision development that will total 400 new homes when complete. I believe strongly that my background as an engineer and business owner, coupled with my long history in Ramara provides the critical thinking and problem-solving ability required to build a stronger community through this period of growth.
If elected, I will:
- Promote the forming of a committee of private, staff Council members to liaise with the developer of the Brechin subdivision during its construction to ensure transparency and open dialogue leading to the betterment of our community;
- Issue a quarterly newsletter of key issues in Ward 4 and the Township as a whole to strengthen your relationship with local government;
- Move to study the possibility of the old Standard Bank and the St. Andrews Church Hall being added to the provincial historic sites list to preserve these important buildings;
- Maintain an open door and open mind to the ideas and concerns of every member of our community;
- Wherever possible find solutions that require less government intervention as opposed to more while fostering community values that make Ramara such a wonderful place to work, live and play.
