For Barrie’s second consecutive mayoral election, Jeff Lehman topped the 90 per cent threshold in the number of votes he received.
Gathered with his family, friends and supporters at PIE restaurant along the city’s waterfront, Lehman watched as the results came in. And it didn’t take long to see that the writing was on the wall, as the 42-year-old secured his third term as the city’s mayor.
“It is an enormous honour to be given a mandate like this,” he said in his victory speech. “We never for a moment, from nomination day on, took anything for granted. Clearly tonight, at 91 per cent, we have a very clear mandate.”
Lehman garnered almost 25,000 votes compared at opponent Ram Faerber, who had more than 2,400 votes for around nine per cent.
“I’ve done this job for eight years and now I have the honour of doing it for four more,” Lehman said, flanked by his young daughter, Cassie, and his wife, Jennifer. “It is the most incredible job. It is never, ever, boring.”
Lehman said his platform was even bolder than in past elections.
“This city is changing and it’s changing very quickly,” he said.
After thanking his volunteers and supporters, Lehman also teared up as he thanked his daughter and wife for all of their support in what he does.
Turning to his wife, Lehman said: “It’s an unusual strain and requires a commitment to each other and an ability to communicate, sometimes not verbally.”
Lehman was first elected to city council in Ward 2 back in 2006.
Following one term as a city councillor, Lehman ran for the mayor’s chair in 2010, defeating incumbent Dave Aspden. Lehman retained the chain of office in 2014 with a landslide victory that included 92.25 per cent of the ballots cast with 26,385 votes.
