Written By Olena Riznyk
Southwest Middlesex voters will choose a mayor and two Ward 1 councillors in this year’s municipal election, while the deputy mayor and councillors in Wards 2 and 3 have been acclaimed.
Michael Sholdice and Martin Welch Jr. are running for mayor.
Mark McGill has been acclaimed as deputy mayor. Edmond Myers and Joel Haggith have been acclaimed in Ward 2, while Marjorie Emery and Jason Oag have been acclaimed in Ward 3.
Five candidates are running for two council seats in Ward 1: current councillor Don McCallum, Zachary Willis, Ed (Murry) Jeffery, former councillor Rick Cowell and Gary Bruggeman.
Willis said he was asked to run to “be the voice of the community and fix the damage.”
Jeffery said he entered the race because he wants to assist Southwest Middlesex in any way he can. A retired construction supervisor with 41 years of experience, he began working at a young age repairing tile drains with his father, who was the drainage superintendent for the former Ekfrid Township.
Jeffery began operating heavy equipment in 1984 and said much of his career has involved infrastructure work.
“I have done a lot of infrastructure work in those years and bring a lot of experience to the table,” he said.
Cowell said he is running because he cares about the community where he has lived and raised his family. His involvement in local community groups, he said, has also shown him the importance of having a local government that listens and responds to residents.
“My priorities are to be an accessible and effective voice for Ward 1, address the concerns of residents and make thoughtful decisions that benefit our community both today and in the years ahead,” Cowell said.
Voting in the Southwest Middlesex municipal election will also take place by internet and telephone, with the voting period running from October 19 to October 26.
