Basil Clarke has been re-elected as mayor in Ramara Township and he will have a newcomer in the deputy-mayor role as Keith Bell upset incumbent Joe Gough.
Clarke was challenged again in this election by former Ramara councillor Marg Sharpe. And, for the second straight election, it was close as Clarke garnered 1,830 votes, while Sharpe had 1,687 ballots cast in her favour. First-time candidate Russ Cole finished in third place with 734 votes.
Clarke noted some of the “primary issues” he heard while campaigning were dealing with COVID-19 now and in the future, as well as access to high-speed internet.”
He credited his experience with his successful run for re-election.
“I think people recognize leadership and people need experience on top of leadership, and that’s why they chose me to continue to be their mayor,” he said.
His main priorities, he added, will be “town development, protecting our lakes, streams, and waterways, and making sure we are moving forward with plans already in place that we have had over the last couple of years.
“We also are on track to finishing our goal of having 100 per cent of the town on high-speed internet. Right now, we are 90 per cent finished and only have 10 per cent left to go … which I believe we can finish by early next year," Clarke told OrilliaMatters.
Clarke congratulated all of the candidates who ran in Ramara.
“It’s not easy, especially during the pandemic,” he said.
When asked why he felt he lost, Cole said, “I didn’t win because I think the community just voted for an ‘old-school’ guy.
“I think change is coming and, in this election, 17 per cent of the voters voted for me, so it was great to stir the pot this round,” he said.
Cole wouldn’t comment on whether he would run again in the future.
Sharpe could not be reached for comment Monday night.
In a tight, three-way race for deputy mayor, incumbent Joe Gough was defeated by Keith Bell. Bell collected 1,457 votes, while Gough had 1,400 and Dave Readman collected 1,314 votes..
“I didn’t think it was going to be as much work as I thought. It was well worth it though in the end,” Bell said of the campaign.
“Hearing people and their opinions, as well as the concerns of citizens, I think we need to build on what we know and hear over the next couple of years.”
Bell credited his win to his having “a very strong background and leading people.”
He said his priorities will include “spending our money in the right places and not wasting it on things that aren’t needed, projects completed that are long overdue, affordable housing, Good Doctors, and access to health care, sports, and arts and culture.”
The results for ward councillors are as follows:
Ward 1: David Snutch (acclaimed)
Ward 2: Jennifer Fisher re-elected with 416 votes
Ward 3: Dana Tuju elected with 472 votes, defeating incumbent Ted Lamb
Ward 4: Gary Hetherington re-elected with 367 votes
Ward 5: Sherri Bell elected with 578 votes, defeating Georgi Jennings
Jodi Lloyd was re-elected as school board trustee (English public), while Jill Colin was acclaimed as school board trustee (English separate), Eric Lapointe was elected as school board trustee (French public), and Claire Thidbideau was acclaimed as school board trustee (French separate).
