IN WASAGA BEACH: PATTERSON, FOSTER

By SHARON WEATHERALL Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin October 27 2010
Wasaga Beach will remain fairly consistent as far as leadership goes for the next term with core teams in place, and two new councillors for each municipality.
In Wasaga Beach Simcoe County Warden Cal Patterson returns as Mayor after beating out Steven Fishman by close to 2,000 votes, with an unofficial count of 3,419. Joining Patterson at the helm for another term will be Deputy-mayor David Foster — he leapt ahead with 3,238 votes against challenger Sandy Smardenka, who ended up with 1,714 votes for her first run in the municipal race.
Patterson says he is “thrilled” with the victory and to be back at the table and looking forward to the next four years. One of the first items on the agenda for the new term will be a review of the election process in Wasaga Beach says Patterson, who was disappointed in the 27% turnout of voters overall –down from 31% at the last election. Election day in Wasaga saw a steady line-up all day at the RecPlex, one that was still there up until 8 p.m.
“The advance polls were down. I think we will have to sit down with staff and the successful candidates and have a look at what went wrong and what went right and see what can be done,” he said. “We need more poll locations. Many people that were lined up gave up and went home without voting,” said Patterson who will also prioritize the beach front this coming term.
“We have a jewel here that is starting to look like a wetland — we need to get rid of the grass and weeds. We have been meeting with the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of tourism to get some government help .”
David Foster is pleased to be back as deputy-mayor for Wasaga, and says a well-maintained municipality relates to growth management — taxation, infrastructure and help to attract business, at both the town and county levels.
“After that it looks like business as usual –looks like we will have the same team with a couple of new councillors to help,” said Foster.
Joining Patterson and Foster at the table this term will be Nina Bifolchi with 3,088 votes, Morley Bercovitch with 2,796 votes, Ron Anderson with 2,191 votes, Connie Gray with 2,054 votes, and Stan Wells with 2,318 votes.