When people get out and vote, the world changes

By Meade Helman AWARE News Network

A new day has dawned in Bradford West Gwillimbury.

In his inaugural address on Tuesday, Mayor Rob Keffer vowed to focus on making make the town better not bigger and to take care of the whole town instead of just spending money on development for the new part of town. He said council’s  number one guiding principle would be respect for the taxpayers.

He also wants to bring forward a number of transparency issue like regular “town hall” type meetings for the wards, a registry for lobbyists, and online records for council and staff expense reports

During the campaign most of the councillors who were elected echoed those sentiments. The new council looked like a very cohesive group, relaxed, even joking a bit during their remarks. Councillor Gary Lamb, who has been off and on council since 1979, said that it was the best team he had seen.

The town apparently agrees. Voter turnout at 41% was higher than any community in York Region and most in Simcoe County. The town manager said the town didn’t have a record of the 300+ turnout for the inauguration ceremony. The town has a new council. Rob Keffer and James Leduc advanced in their positions while only three of seven councillors we re-elected.

This shows that when people get out and vote, the world changes.