A look at Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman's political career
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman's long tenure is one of many milestones in his political career.
The 46-year-old cruised to his third election win as Barrie's mayor in October 2018 with a landslide win, a feat he also achieved during his initial re-election in 2014, when he became the city's first mayor to capture a back-to-back win in the 21st century.
Lehman was first elected to council in 2006, representing Ward 2 for one term before claiming the mayor's seat in 2010.
He has sat at the helm for some of the most tumultuous years in the city's recent history, including leading its COVID-19 response.
Lehman was born in Toronto, but his family moved to Barrie in his early childhood, where he completed his education right through high school, having attended Allandale Heights Public School and Barrie Central Collegiate Institute.
He brought a strong economics background to his tenure on council, including a master's degree earned overseas at the London School of Economics.
But Lehman put his focus into more than Barrie council chambers.
He is also serving his second stint as chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors' Caucus, having been re-elected in 2018 with more than 90 per cent of the vote.
Lehman's next bid to be MPP puts him up against some strong competition, with incumbent and current Attorney General Doug Downey looking to hold onto the riding of Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte for a second term.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.