Municipal
New and returning councillors talk about first steps
The 2022 Kawartha Lakes municipal election featured the election of four novice councillors and the return of one former councillor after eight years in the political wilderness.
Stories by Kirk Winter
Municipal
Richardson chosen to be deputy mayor
Ward Eight councillor Tracy Richardson was acclaimed to the position of deputy-mayor by council at their first meeting.
Municipal
New council sworn in
With all the pomp and circumstance that Kawartha Lakes could muster, the 2022-2026 city council was sworn in to begin serious council budget deliberations later this month.
Education
CUPE members can no longer make ends meet
“I have three jobs so I can support my children and myself,” Dunham said.
Opinion Columns
10 things I learned about municipal politics in Kawartha Lakes
Every election is an event unto itself, and much can be learned from each and every election cycle.
Municipal
Early voting numbers down from last election
Despite contested races in every ward, and a mayoral race that is still wide-open, numbers provided on the early vote so far in the Kawartha Lakes municipal election show 5.5 per cent fewer votes cast in 2022 than 2018.
Municipal
Busy ward five race sees five candidates race for the finish line
With voting beginning October 14 in the Kawartha Lakes municipal elections, many believe the race in Ward Five will shape up to be as close as it was in 2018.
Municipal
Ward 4 a competitive race
What do you get when seven enthusiastic candidates run in the same ward after the long-time incumbent has announced his retirement from politics?
Municipal
Candidates don't usually spend their allowed maximum in municipal races
Candidates running in municipal elections require funding to pay for a range of expenses which include lawn signs, election pamphlets and advertising opportunities offered by local radio, television and print media.
Education
School board races competitive
In 2018, voters in Kawartha Lakes had little opportunity to change their Trillium Lakelands District School Board trustees, with four of five local races featuring only one candidate who was ultimately acclaimed.
Education
Director hoping for labour peace
Wes Hahn, the director of education for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, is very hopeful that after three school years disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that this year will be a quiet year for staff and students with a minimum of interruptions, particularly on the labour front.
Municipal
Riches' aim would be to bring city together if elected mayor
In a telephone interview with The Advocate, Jim Riches detailed what motivated him to run for mayor, and what changes he hopes to make in Kawartha Lakes if elected.
Municipal
Seymour-Fagan willing to consider tax increase to fund city's needs
As recently as a year ago local business owner and Bobcaygeon-area councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan was done with politics.
Municipal
McGee wants to move council meetings to other city locations if elected mayor
Long time community volunteer and politician Faye McGee says the next mayor of Kawartha Lakes, along with a fresh slate of councillors, should find a different way of doing business.
Municipal
Dunn would focus on improving 'core' city services if elected mayor
If elected mayor, four-term councillor Pat Dunn says he has a plan for Kawartha Lakes that prioritizes core city services.
Municipal
Denby makes three in mayoral race
Cameron-area businessman and president of the Kawartha Lakes Taxpayer Association, Bill Denby, has decided to challenge for the mayor’s chair in the October 2022 municipal election.
Municipal
Municipal election picture continues to change
The mayoral election in Kawartha Lakes is looking more and more like a two-horse race between council stalwarts Doug Elmslie and Pat Dunn with only 10 days to go before the cut-off to accept any new candidates.
Municipal
City clerk weighs in on 'early' election signs seen in city
Over the last 10 days a number of Kawartha Lakes residents have contacted the Advocate to ask for clarification about the rules that govern the placement of campaign signs for this fall’s municipal election.
Municipal
Letham feels good about city's direction
After almost eight years as the mayor of Kawartha Lakes, Andy Letham feels “pretty good” about where the city is and where it is heading.
Opinion Columns
Many incumbents remain on the sidelines in municipal race
When one scans the list of declared municipal and school board candidates planning to run in the October 2022 elections, it becomes obvious that some incumbents who were expected to announce early in the process are taking their time before entering the public fray for another round.
Municipal
City graduates first post-pandemic class of volunteer firefighters
In late 2021, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service Chief Terry Jones told council that his force was in need of sixty new volunteer firefighters.
Federal
Schmale says he did not attend meeting hosted by members of trucker convoy
On June 24, 24 Conservative members of parliament, including Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton member Jamie Schmale, were identified by CTV News as having attended meetings hosted by four people closely linked to the so-called Freedom Convoy movement. However, Schmale's office says this just isn't true.
Municipal
Municipal election starting to take shape
Kawartha Lakes residents will be asked to exercise their democratic right one more time on Oct. 24 in what could be a sea change election.