Mayor Jim Ginn welcomes new term of Central Huron Council

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

The new Central Huron Council held its inaugural meeting in Clinton on Monday night, welcoming two new faces to the table for the next four-year term.

All council members were sworn in by Clerk Kerri Ann O’Rourke before any official business could go forward. Mayor Jim Ginn returned to his position, defeating challenger and former Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt, while former Councillor Marg Anderson was sworn in as the new deputy-mayor after defeating Jared Petteplace in last month’s election. 

Incumbent West Ward Councillors Michael Russo, Adam Robinson and Alison Lobb were all acclaimed ahead of the election, while, in the East Ward, incumbent Councillor Danny Colquhoun was re-elected, to be joined by incoming Councillors Jennifer Cox and Everett Smith.

In his inaugural address, Ginn first thanked departing Councillor Alex Westerhout, who was in attendance, for his service to the municipality after he chose not to run again this term. He also thanked Jewitt for his time as the deputy-mayor, saying Central Huron lost two very good council members last month, but that he was sure the municipality gained two good council members in Smith and Cox, who Ginn said would ably step in for Jewitt and Westerhout.

He thanked all of council for stepping up and choosing to serve their community through municipal politics and he also thanked council members’ families for giving them up for the extra hours and many events that councillors attend as part of the job. He also mentioned the extensive preparation time spent by council members ahead of meetings.

He said there are some perks and rewards involved with the positions, but that council members also take on a lot of responsibility.

Ginn also took a moment to thank the staff at Central Huron, saying that, really, council makes most of its decisions based on the research, work and advice from staff and the municipality is blessed with an excellent staff. 

In closing, Ginn said that Central Huron is a municipality that other municipalities look up to, which he’s been told on numerous occasions.