NEWS
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DESMOND DEVOY desmond.devoy@metroland.com First-term Coun. Riq Turner is considering a run for mayor. "I'm considering it," he said during an exclusive interview with The Perth Courier after town council's committee of the whole meeting. "I'm giving it a lot of consideration." With Deputy Mayor John Gemmell and fellow Coun. Jim Boldt having already filed on the same day - May 15 - to run for mayor it is proving to be a crowded race for the top job already. (Councillors Ed McPherson and Jim Graff will now be running for the Deputy Mayor's chair. Coun. Judy Brown has also filed to run for re-election to her council seat.) Having been first elected in the October 2014 municipal elections as the only new member of council, Turner is not only a real estate agent, but a former mem-
ber of the local country rock band Ambush, before striking out artistically on his own. "I have worked on some platform issues that I think are important," he said, speaking on the sidewalk on Gore Street East. "It's tough with the (provincial) election coming up Thursday." He promised that he would make a final decision by next week at the latest. "I think I have a lot of good ideas," he said. He said he wanted to see "a return to classic values," but when asked to define what these 'classic values' were, he smiled and said, "You'll see." He promised that, if elected in October, "music will probably disappear," from his already busy plate, what with a young family at home, on top of his political and professional obligations. "I will take that (music) time (and) commit it to the town, because I love this town."
NDP wins election - at high school Student Vote '18 DESMOND DEVOY desmond.devoy@metroland.com New Democrat Ramsey Hart is Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston's new MPP - or at least, he would be if it were only Perth high school students voting. Students at both Perth and District Collegiate Institute (PDCI) and St. John Catholic High School voted in the Student Vote mock election on Tuesday, June 5, less than 48 hours before Ontario residents aged 18 and older (who are Canadian citizens) began voting in the 2018 Ontario provincial election. In the vote at St. John, the NDP's Ramsey Hart beat incumbent Progressive Conservative Randy Hillier 32 votes to 23. In a surprise surge, Green Party candidate Anita Payne collected 15 votes, eight ahead of Liberal candidate Amanda Pulker-Mok who was in fourth place. It was a two-way tie for fifth place, between Libertarian Steve Gebhardt and independent John A. McEwen, with three votes each.
Desmond Devoy/Metroland
St. John Catholic High School student Charlotte McFarland makes her decision on her ballot behind the screen at the 2018 Student Vote centre in Perth on Tuesday, June 5.
There were 83 accepted votes, and four rejected ballots. There were no declined or unmarked ballots. Across town, Hart also carried the day at PDCI, beating Hillier by
an even wider margin of 44 votes, 193 votes to 149 respectively. Like at St. John, Payne was also in third place at the public school, with 47 votes. Pulker-Mok was again in fourth place with 40 votes, while Gebhardt beat McEwan to fifth place by a single vote - 18 votes to 17 respectively. Civics lessons The PDCI elections were held by the school's two civics classes. Last week, students from the class went to all other classes, from Grades 7 to 12, giving details of each of the candidates running in the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston riding, according to principal Kellie Weir-Burtt. The voting took place at PDCI during periods two and four, though Grade 7 and French immersion students voted early because of class trips planned for that day. (The vote at St. John was held on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.) The results from both schools were counted and were added to the provincewide student-run election.
| The Perth Courier | Thursday, June 14, 2018
Turner considers run for mayor's chair
Municipal Connection KILT RUN ROAD CLOSURES: SATURDAY, JUNE 23RD
Drivers and residents please take note that the Annual Perth Kilt Run takes place on Saturday, June 23rd in the Town of Perth. The 1km and 8km races start at 6pm, with the start and finish line in Tay Basin Parking Lot. Beckwith Street will be closed starting at 4pm, between Riverside Drive and Harvey Street, for the Kids’ Races. The full race route will be closed beginning at 5:30pm. Please also note that this year’s route is mostly confined to the east portion of the Town, leaving Gore Street open for much of the day and evening. All of the Tay Basin Parking Lot will be closed for race activities between 1pm and 10pm. Those who would normally park here for business or other purposes should make arrangements to park in another municipal lot on that day. The Committee is kindly requesting that residents not park on the street while the race is taking place (5:30-9:00pm). Streets will re-open after the last runner has gone through, but please plan on roads being closed up to 9pm in some areas.
For more information on the day’s activities, to view the race routes or for information about parking and road closures, please see the website at www.perthkiltrun.ca or phone 613-264-6123.
insideottawavalley.com
Cheering, tartan leisure suits and informal celebrations are welcomed along the race route! We encourage everyone to join in the fun and cheer on the 1700+ runners currently registered.