Four-way race for Mayor of Georgian Highlands
By Express Staff

And they're off...

The campaign for the first council of Georgian Highlands began Friday as deadlines for nominations closed and election fever spread across the current Meaford, St. Vincent and Sydenham soon to be known as Georgian Highlands. Election signs are popping up all over the place and have been seen as far away as Rockford as a multitude of individuals seeking seven council seats begin their efforts to get elected.

Voters in Georgian Highlands will have a plethora of choice when choosing the first council of the new municipality with elections being held for the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor and five council positions.

Unquestionably the first big surprise of the 2000 election came late Friday afternoon when current Meaford Mayor Doug Grant was nominated for the position of Mayor of Georgian Highlands. Grant, just completing his first term as Meaford's Mayor and a long time member of town council, had insisted from as far back as late 1999 that he didn't have any intention of seeking elected office in the new municipality.

However after the recent controversy over Meaford's police force at the Transition Board and following numerous phone calls from residents asking him to run, Grant decided to file papers and seek the Mayor's chair.

With Grant's inclusion in the race, all three of the current head's of council: Grant, St. Vincent Reeve Gerald Shortt and Sydenham Reeve Deborah Young are seeking re-election along with a new comer to municipal politics, Ian Fife.

In addition to the four-way race for Mayor the Deputy-Mayor's position will also be hotly contested by three current council incumbents. Two Meaford councillors, Bonnie Jolley and Bob Osman along with Sydenham councillor Robert Reid are seeking the deputy's spot on council and the second Georgian Highlands seat on county council (the other goes to the Mayor).

The five Georgian Highlands council seats will feature one of the most extensive fields of candidates in recent years. Ten people have been nominated for the five positions. Current Meaford councillors Paul Hutchinson, Mike Hunter and Don Fountain, current St. Vincent councillors Harley Greenfield and Diane Hurlburt, current Sydenham councillors Dave Stewart and Linda van Aalst, former Sydenham Reeve Sam Luckhardt and newcomer Tim Archer have decided to seek a position on council.