Former Barrie mayor Jeff Lehman has a new political position in cottage country
Former mayor Jeff Lehman has a new position in politics as the leader of the District of Muskoka just over a month since leaving the Barrie office.
On Monday, a newly-elected 22-member district chose Lehman in a secret ballot to manage the six municipalities in cottage country.
"I'm so excited, I know there's a ton of work ahead, and I'm delighted that the district council gave me this opportunity to serve them," Lehman said shortly after the announcement was made Monday.
He vied for the job against several locals with various political backgrounds, including former Gravenhurst councillor Terry Pilger and Bracebridge councillor Don Smith.
Lehman served 12 years as Barrie's mayor but shifted his focus to provincial politics in the spring rather than seeking a fourth term.
He lost the seat at Queen's Park in the June election but vowed his political career wasn't over. However, questions were raised Monday on whether Lehman will serve the entirety of his four-year term as district chair.
"What that question gave me the opportunity to do is make that commitment very clear to everybody standing in this room today that I want to serve the District of Muskoka, and I won't be phoning it in," Lehman says. "I'm going to be here, and I hope to bring my experience and accomplish a lot while I have the chance."
He takes the district chair position after John Klinck announced he would retire after nearly three decades of public service.
Now that its new chair has been selected, council members are looking forward to getting to work.
"We are a growing community, but we don't want to grow too fast, but we do want to grow environmentally friendly," says Sandy Cairns, a Gravenhurst district councillor.
The mayor of the Township of Lake of Bays says internet access remains a top concern that he would like to see addressed.
"One issue that was never talked about was improvements to broadband and cell service," says Mayor Terry Glover. "I've been working on that a lot, and it was a priority for the Lake of Bays, and it's a priority for the district, so I'm hoping to get that fire up again."
Last month, Lehman announced his intention to continue his political career in cottage country, noting his strong ties to the area.
"My family and I believe this will be a great way to put our love for Muskoka and my municipal experience to work close to home. We've been part of the District since the 1990s at our place in Huntsville/Lake of Bays," he shared on Twitter in a November post.
Lehman will serve as Muskoka District Chair for the next four years. His first official day of work is Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.