Change comes to Simcoe County

Guergis “dynasty” swept off the map
By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe October 26 2010
The electorate has chosen change – a new brand of leaders who have promised to listen to the people, care for the environment and be prudent with our tax dollars.
Yesterday’s municipal election was a significant victory for the hundreds of county residents who rose up against Site 41, who fought for a new approach to waste management and who organized across the County under the AWARE Simcoe banner for transparency, sustainability and fiscal accountability.

The Guergis “dynasty” – standard bearers for behind-closed-doors dealings, over-the-top spending and an arrogant disregard for regular folks – has been swept off the map.
GONE: Springwater Mayor Tony Guergis, three-time warden, resoundingly rejected by the voters of Springwater.
GONE: Essa Mayor David Guergis, whose campaign against the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority was entangled with his family’s property dealings.
GONE: Their cousin, Christine Brayford, sister to MP Helena Guergis, defeated in her bid for deputy mayor in New Tecumseth.
Here are the new leaders:
IN: Midland Mayor-elect Gord McKay, chair of Zero Waste Simcoe, who fought hard during the county’s waste management strategy process for the new approaches that must be implemented if we are not to drown in our own garbage.
IN: Innisfil Mayor-elect Barb Baguley, a tough operator who won’t be phased by developers or administrators. She beat Gord Wauchope, the old-guard chair of the waste management strategy subcommittee who was tasked with heading off effective Zero Waste measures.
IN: Tiny Mayor-elect Ray Millar, whose intimate knowledge of how municipal politics works was forged by years on the Site 41 front lines.
IN: Essa Mayor-elect Terry Dowdall, who took on the Guergises on their home turf and never stooped to fear-mongering or distortion.
IN: Bradford West Gwillimbury Deputy Mayor-elect Rob Keffer, a farmer who can articulate the needs of agriculture to the urban voter, who beat former warden Dennis Roughley.
IN: Tiny Deputy Mayor-elect George Lawrence, who never lost touch with the people he respresented as he led the Site 41 battle at County Council.
IN: Innisfil Deputy Mayor-elect Dan Davidson, often a lone voice on council in defence of residents’ rights to defend their communities against developers, who campaigned outspokenly against the “old boys’ club” and the blight of urban sprawl.
IN: Midland Deputy Mayor-elect Stephan Kramp, who fought for answers when groundwater contamination from the North Simcoe waste transfer station came to light.
There are others who benefited from voters’ rejection of clique politicking behind closed doors – Gerry Marshall, elected mayor in Penetanguishene, Linda Collins, in Springwater, Mike Burkett in Severn – who have yet to show their mettle.
In Barrie, Mayor-elect Jeff Lehman appears to embody the best of the new politics: attentive to the grass roots while articulating a sophisticated and inclusive vision of progress.
The future looks promising.
Results
Your reaction: Write aware.simcoe@gmail.com with your thoughts on last night’s election results and we’ll publish a compilation of reaction from across Simcoe County.