36 candidates will grace ballots in New Tecumseth

By Maija Hoggett Simcoe.com Sep 14, 2010
NEW TECUMSETH – The slate of candidates for the upcoming New Tecumseth municipal elections is final, with 36 people vying for 10 seats at the council table.
As the nomination deadline closed Friday afternoon there were no last minute surprises, as registered candidates maintained the spot they signed up for. There were, however, some new additions to the list.
Realtor Peter Barbati threw his hat into the ring for the Ward 5 (rural north) seat. Stuart Starbuck joined the Ward 7 (rural south) race, and Joe Sutherland entered the Ward 8 (Tottenham) race.
Barbati is a realtor with Flat Fee Realty. He has lived in the area for over 15 years and said he’s thought about running for council in the past couple of elections. During those elections, Barbati said he had young children at home, but now that his children are older he has more flexibility with his schedule.
The decision to run for council, he said, is because of his concern for the overall finances and well-being of the town.
Barbati’s competition in the ward is Helga Elie, Frank Forrest, Donna Jebb and Alan Masters.
If Joe Sutherland is elected, he won’t be the first Sutherland to have a seat at the New Tecumseth council table.
Joe’s wife, Joan, has 21 years of municipal council experience (she was the last Reeve of Tottenham and later sat as a councillor for the amalgamated Town of New Tecumseth).
In Ward 8, Sutherland’s competition is Jess Prothero, Jim Stone and Elias Lafazanos.
Sutherland has worked for about 55 years in the sales industry and is semi-retired. Currently he runs his own business, Signs, Designs and Sales.
He decided to try for a seat on council because he said it’s time for a change. If elected, he would like to see Tottenham’s representation increased to two councillors again.
Ward 7’s newest candidate Stuart Starbuck isn’t new to politics.
He is the federal Green Party candidate for Simcoe-Grey, but has to relinquish the candidacy in order to run for New Tecumseth council.
The other candidates in Ward 7 are Bruce Haire, Shira Harrison McIntyre and Frank Prothero.
A full list of candidates for the Oct. 25 municipal election is available online at www.town.newtecumseth.on.ca.
For a closer look at the candidates, be sure to pick up next Tuesday’s edition of the Alliston Herald, which will feature a special section with profiles on all the candidates.