Old guard sweeps top positions at county council

By Kate Harries AWARE News Network December 11 2012

There’s an old guard and a new guard at Simcoe County Council. 

It’s not a matter of length of service, and it’s not a matter of left/right political positions. Old guard tends to cleave to the party line laid down by CAO Mark Aitken and express undying gratitude to staff; new guard tends to question implicit assumptions and ask challenging questions in public.

But this is a conservative and clubby crowd. No one wants to stand out. So there’s little pont in reporting what was said as old and new jostled for position today to elect (by secret ballot) a warden, deputy warden and heads of standing committees. The important things had been said over the phone, behind closed doors and in chance encounters over the preceding days, weeks and months. 

After two years of the current term, no one was prepared to go up against Wasaga Beach Mayor Cal Patterson (old guard), running for his third term as warden. Nominated by New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern (who often plays a decided new-guard role, but not this time) and seconded by Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough (old guard), Patterson was acclaimed. 

Somewhat unexpected was the challenge presented by the oath of office. In what appeared to be a severe case of attention deficit disorder, Patterson was unable to repeat the short sentences read out to him by Justice of the Peace Dennis Wilson. Eventually he got through it, to the relief of one and all. 

A measure of excitement attached to the race for deputy warden, which pitted incumbent Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes (old guard) against Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall (new guard). Ramara Deputy Mayor Basil Clarke (old guard) nominated Hughes, with O-M’s Hough seconding.

Marshall was nominated by Midland Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp (new guard), seconded by his own deputy mayor Patrick Marion (middle of the road). 

Was anyone swayed by Hughes’ insistence that he had the warden’s support? Probably not. The old guard – about 14 people out of 32 – was solidly against Marshall. Some middle-of-the-roaders will have thought that the Penetang mayor is too new to elected office to take on the job. Let’s not say anything about those who have been there for a very long time, to little effect. 

The election of standing committee heads started off ho-hum. Bradford West-Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White (old guard) nominated Ramara’s Clarke to repeat as chair of performance management, council’s top committee. There was no challenger. 

Ditto when Springwater Deputy Mayor Dan McLean (who evades classification but is old guard at heart) nominated Clearview Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage (old guard) to return as chair of human services, and Collingwood Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd (old guard) nominated Clearview Mayor Ken Ferguson (old guard) to once again head corporate services.

So the heads of all three standing committees were acclaimed. 

Then things got interesting. 

Clarke nominated Tay Mayor Scott Warnock (new guard) as vice-chair, replacing White. Warnock was acclaimed. 

Essa Deputy Mayor Sandie Macdonald (new guard) nominated Springwater’s McLean  to vice-chair of human services, a position held for the last two years by Wasaga Beach Deputy Mayor David Foster (old guard despite progressive views on social issues). McLean was elected.  

Collingwood Mayor Sandra Cooper (old guard) nominated Lloyd, her deputy mayor, to return as vice-chair of corporate services. Midland’s Kramp nominated Springwater Mayor Linda Collins (old guard). And Tay’s Warnock nominated Marshall, the defeated deputy warden candidate. 

With the old guard vote split between Lloyd and Collins, Marshall was elected. Just about the only surprise of the day.

 

Barrie Examiner December 11, 2012 

The Wasaga Beach mayor was the first warden to serve two terms in office as head of county council after taking on the position in 2010 and now, Patterson will continue to serve the county as warden during 2013/2014, which marks his third term in the position.

“I am honoured to be returning as Warden for 2013 and 2014,” said Patterson in a release. “Over the past three years, Simcoe County Council has made extraordinary progress. This Council works hard to meet the needs of our residents while staying fiscally responsible and transparent,” Patterson said. “Today, my colleagues demonstrated their continued confidence in my leadership, and for that, I am very grateful.”

Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes will stay by Patterson’s side after he was re-elected as deputy warden.

The chairs of the county’s standing committees were acclaimed on Tuesday including Ramara Township Deputy Mayor Basil Clarke as chairman of the performance management committee, Clearview Township Deputy-Mayor Alicia Savage as head of the human services committee, and Clearview Township Mayor Ken Ferguson as head of the corporate services committee.

And finally, Tay Township Mayor Scott Warnock was acclaimed as vice-chairman of the performance management committee, while Springwater Township Deputy-Mayor Dan McLean was elected vice-chairman of the human services committee, and Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall was elected vice-chairman of the corporate services committee.

By Trina Berlo Barrie Advance Dec 11, 2012 

MIDHURST – Cal Patterson has been acclaimed as county warden for the third time. 

A third term for the Wasaga Beach mayor makes him the longest sitting County of Simcoe warden in recent history.

Patterson, 65, was sworn in at county council’s inaugural meeting in Midhurst Dec. 11.

Consistency, said Patterson, is what he sees as important while the county continues to make significant advancements.

Patterson was acclaimed in 2009 for a one-year term and again in 2010 for a two-year term. This new term is also two years but the position will change to a four-year term with the next election in 2014, to coincide with a regular municipal term of council.

He said he was thrilled that there was no opposition going in.

“It’s certainly an honour to be the warden and an honour and a privilege to be the mayor of Wasaga Beach and I hope to be able to continue both responsibilities,” said Patterson.

He said the top priority facing county council during the upcoming term is to complete the 2008 Official Plan, adding council has made great headway on the project.

“In a lot of areas growth has been stagnant for over three years because of the Official Plan. The majority of the 16 member municipalities, maybe with the exception of Wasaga Beach, Bradford and Collingwood, growth has been on hold because the Official Plan isn’t approved so that’s the priority,” he said.

Improved waste management and implementing the long-term and short-term diversion strategy, implementing the 10-year economic development strategy and improving transit throughout the region are also priorities, said Patterson.

Longevity in the role of warden also benefits the county and its member municipalities in the relationships formed with people at Queen’s Park, he said. 

In the past three years, Patterson said he has had the opportunity to bend the ears of people at Queen’s Park on many issues, has developed good working relationships with the mayors of Barrie and Orillia, the separated cities, and the chairs of York, Peel and Durham regions and other wardens in southwestern Ontario. He also led the economic development priority for the western wardens for two years. 

Patterson said he is comfortable in the job because he has the time, a good council in Wasaga Beach and good staff at the county.

“I am already doing it. I know what it’s all about. I am able to manage time and priorities, balance everything to be able to do the job in both locations. Historically when I was in business for 35 years, I always worked 70 hours a week. That’s just my nature, my work ethic. It’s not a stretch to do both jobs. I am used to it,” said Patterson, adding that some weeks are more demanding than others in both roles.

“In the best interest of the taxpayers of Wasaga Beach, I have input on 75 per cent of their taxes.”

Patterson is retired from a career in finance, having worked as a CFO, treasurer and financial controller, including 18 years as controller at CCL Container in Penetaguishene.

He has had a seat on Wasaga Beach council since 1991. He has been mayor since 2003.

Returning as deputy warden for Simcoe County is Oro-Medonte mayor Harry Hughes.