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Perth Courier
November 4, 2010 • Edition 20
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Voters put trust in incumbent MacPherson
IN BRIEF Police investigating break and enter The Perth Police Service are currently investigating a break and enter that took place at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 on Grant Street. The suspect(s) made off with a 42-inch television from the residence.
Stingrays receive MOU extnesion
BY ANDREW SNOOK andrew.snook@perthcourier.com
The Perth Stingrays Aquatics Club received a three-month extension to their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Town of Perth. The MOU allows the Stingrays to perform self-guarding during their practices and events at the Perth and District Indoor Pool. In recognition for their self-guarding, the Stingrays club receives a five per cent rebate on their pool rental costs. The MOU was scheduled to expire on Oct. 22.
Town of Perth unofficial 2010 election results: Mayor, John Fenik (Acclaimed) Deputy Mayor, John Gemmill (Acclaimed) Council Jim A. Graff (1,280 votes) Judy Brown (1,262 votes) Jim K. Boldt (1,135 votes) Ed McPherson (1,131 votes) Beth Peterkin (969 votes) Bill White Eric Devlin Kelly Lowry
INSIDE
(790 votes) (738 votes) (640 votes) Wesley Ewart, 7, gets a hand from his mother, Kim, during Random Act of Pumpkins, a fundraiser held Saturday for the third year in Westport. The day saw more than 1,400 pumpkins carved, raising funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation.
RANDOM ACT OF PUMPKINS
The people of Perth and Smiths Falls have put their trust in their trustees. Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Ward 2 trustee Bill MacPherson (Town of Perth, Township of Durmmond/North Elmsley, Tay Valley Township, Beckwith, Montague) was re-elected with more than 55 per cent of the vote (3,743 votes) in a two-man race over Stephen Day (3,048 votes). UCDSB Trustee Susan Richards (Merrickville/ Welford, Rideau Lakes, Smiths Falls and Westport) was acclaimed and did not have battle for her position as trustee. “I like to view it as a validation of the last 10 years,” MacPherson said. “It was nice to have that comfortable margin (695 votes). In a two-way race you shoot for 51 per cent.” MacPherson took the majority of the votes in the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley (468-360), Lanark Highlands (1,699-939) and Montague (681370), while Day took won the voting race in Perth (775-438) and Tay Valley Township (604-457). During the campaign MacPherson said he had several bumps in the road, including his son breaking his arm the night of an all-candidates’ debate, and a car accident. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster… I work full time and I have my job commitments, I have my family commitments and I was still working as a trustee, so it’s a bit balancing act. But it’s not a journey I haven’t taken before.” MacPherson first entered the political world in 1974, when he became the youngest councillor in Lanark County at 26 years of age. He was a councillor in the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley for 16 years. See ‘Majority of voters’, Pg. 3
Nevil Hunt photo
New councillors ready to work
The gold standard Sultana Frizell came back to Perth for a visit after hammering the competition at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. 18
Laurier in Love Author Roy MacSkimming will be discussing his most recent novel at the Factory Grind on Nov. 10. 3
The people of Perth have spoken. They have called for the leadership of Jim Graff and Jim Boldt. The two newest councillors finished first and third in the municipal election held Oct. 25. Graff ended up with the largest number of votes for any council candidate with 1,280 votes, while Boldt finished third with 1,135 votes. Graff and Boldt will begin their four-year terms as councillors on Dec. 1. “I feel very humbled and appreciate that people are willing to give me a chance to make some positive contributions to our beautiful town,” Graff said. This was Graff ’s first time running for council. He said that he tried to “cover all the bases” during his campaign, including putting up lawn signs and going door-to-door listening to the concerns of Perth residents. “I have my own ideas where I would like to contribute and there are other areas where people are concerned as well,” Graff said. “Sometimes people don’t want candidates knocking on their door during elections, but we had a great response from people. It was a great learning experience.” Boldt said that the results from the election were evidence that Perth residents wanted a change. “Both Jim Graff and I garnered
after the public funds and spend them as efficiently as we can,” he said. “We need an economic development officer and economic growth to get a hold of the crazy rising taxes.” Graff said that his primary interest is also lowering taxes for Perth residents, and he said
A CHILLY RIDE
Perth’s Timothy McNamee, 22, enjoys some pre-Halloween wakeboarding at Len’s Cove dressed up as a member of the Smiths Falls Bears on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Her brother, Mike McNamee is the Bears’ leading scorer. Andrew Snook photo
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this can be done by expanding the town’s tax base through development in Perth’s industrial park. He said that he would also like to see more development in the downtown area. “I always think it’s nice to have the services within the town,” See ‘New councillors’, Pg. 3
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a good number of the votes,” he said. “It’s clear with the two longest incumbents defeated that there’s a message (people want change).” Long-time councillors Bill White and Eric Devlin finished with 790 and 738 votes respectively. “I’m not disappointed, can’t be at my age (89 years old),” Devlin said. Devlin’s advice to the new councillors is for them to remember that the council is made up of a team, not individuals. “They’re only one of seven people,” Devlin said. “If they have a project that they want to get and don’t, they have to accept the decision.” Graff said that he will have a very steep learning curve when his council sessions begin, and that working with his fellow councillors will be essential. “I think we all want the same thing, we just have some different ideas on how to get there,” he said. “When you believe strongly in something you have to stick to your guns, but we all only have one vote…you need four votes to pass a motion so I think everybody on council will want to work together to make things better.” Boldt said that the first thing he wants to do is get his feet wet and understand what the town is currently committed to, as far as expenditures for the coming year. “It’s our mandate to look
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BY ANDREW SNOOK