Is Barrie’s outgoing mayor set to become the incoming district chair of the Muskoka district council?
Jeff Lehman said he filed his papers Thursday to be a candidate for district chair in Muskoka, a position that is selected by the members of district council on Dec. 5.
“It would be my honour to serve them in this position,” he said. “On housing, economic development, governance and environmental stewardship, I hope to bring my background to serving the residents of the district. Many of the challenges facing Muskoka are those I believe I can bring my energy and experience to addressing.
“Chair (John) Klinck has brought strong and collaborative leadership over the years,” Lehman added. “While no one can replace him, I believe we have a very similar, consensus-based approach and I would seek to continue his work.”
Lehman is finishing 12 years as Barrie mayor, having chosen not to seek a fourth term of that office during the city election, which ended Oct. 24.
“My family is always my top priority and it’s extra important for me to be closer to home right now,” Lehman said. “(My partner) Carolina and I believe this will be a great way for me to bring our love for Muskoka and my municipal experience to continuing to make positive change.
“In my remarks this week as I leave office in Barrie, I've had the chance to talk about how municipalities shape everyday life,” he added. “We’re the level of government that makes the biggest difference on our communities. I've spent most of my life serving the public as a municipal leader and believe in our impact, so it would be my honour to serve the district as chair.”
The district chair will be appointed by the council at its inaugural meeting, to be held Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. at 3 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the district's administration building at 70 Pine St., in Bracebridge.
The other candidates for district chair, as of Thursday afternoon, are Terry Pilger and Don Smith.
Since there are two or more candidates for the next Office of District Chair, a formal meet-the-candidates event and debate is scheduled to be held Monday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m.
The District Municipality of Muskoka forms the upper-tier of governing, working closely with six area municipalities — the towns of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville, the townships of Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lakes — which make up the lower-tier.
Both levels collaborate and align services to achieve cost efficiencies and best serve residents and visitors to Muskoka.
These collaborative responsibilities include waste management and recycling, drinking water, wastewater, land ambulance service, policing, social housing, land use planning, economic development, roads, bridges and parks.
The district is governed by a 23-member council consisting of a district chair, who is appointed directly by the district council, the mayors of the six area municipalities and 16 directly elected district councillors who also sit on the area municipal councils — three from each, with the exception of the townships of Lake of Bays and Georgian Bay, which have two.
District council meetings are held in the Council Chamber of the District Administration Building on Pine Street in Bracebridge on the third Monday of the month, beginning at 3 p.m. Committee meetings are held during the day in the council week. Meetings are open to the public.
