Chamber of commerce general manager, garage owner, face off in Ward 1

Two candidates seeking to represent Ward 1 on the city’s next council agree on one thing: Kawartha Lakes’ northernmost ward is a big place to serve.

Jennifer Sherry and Don Logan both pointed to the ward’s geographic size and the challenge of ensuring residents across its communities have a strong voice on council as key issues facing the area.

Sherry, who is general manager of the Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce, said “a loud voice” on council is what Ward 1 needs most because its size means constituents have a myriad of needs and concerns.

“This a huge ward, so you can’t say there’s one big issue that blankets everyone,” she said. “I think the biggest issue we have is we don’t have a loud voice for our ward. The ward (is geographically large) and we all have varying issues.”

Logan owns Kawatha Garage (not Kawartha) in Coboconk and is a 40 year member of Fire Station 17 in Norland. He said a Ward 1 councillor needs to be familiar with the ward’s many needs, adding that his lifelong connection to the community and decades of service with the fire department have given him extensive knowledge of its roads and infrastructure.

“We have one person representing 10,000 people, and it’s a heck of a territory (in terms of size),” he said. “In the fire department, I have to know where the water is all the time and every back road there is – I don’t need to do that kind of research (if constituents have a water or road issue) because I have been around it all this time.”

Ward 1, which is largely rural, includes the villages of Norland, Coboconk, Bolsover and Kirkfield. The ward’s incumbent, Coun. Emmett Yeo, is not seeking re-election.

Sherry said she decided to run after four years of working with local businesses, organizations and residents at the chamber.

The Coboconk resident said she wants to continue helping people solve problems and become a stronger voice for the community on council.

“My favourite part of my current role (at the chamber) is helping people solve their problems and being face to face with the community (and) getting to meet and chat with people,” Sherry said.

Logan, who is taking his third run for a council seat, said his longstanding ties to the area have given him a deep understanding of the ward, its residents and their concerns. A Norland resident, he said his experience as a business owner has taught him the importance of being approachable and working with people to find solutions.

“When you’re in the car-repair business, you have people coming to you with problems, and you have to be fairly successful at it and be able to talk and reason with them to come up with the best solution – and I would like to do that sort of thing with council,” he said.

Asked what city council should do differently during the next four years, the candidates offered different perspectives.

Logan pointed to road infrastructure as a priority, saying the municipality needs a stronger road budget and clear accountability measures to ensure needed work gets done.

Sherry, drawing on her chamber of commerce background, suggested the city could take a stronger focus on investment and economic development while continuing to support local communities.

If elected, Sherry said she would devote herself full-time to the role and pledged to remain accessible to residents throughout her term.

“I will be a full-time councillor so that I can really make a difference for our community,” she said. “I want (constituents) to come forward with their problems so that I can help them” with solutions.

Logan also said voters can expect his full focus on the job and would draw on decades of experience living and working in Ward 1 “I will work hard and fair, and I will use all my experience to try to resolve the problems that are coming up,” he said.

Municipal elections are being held across Ontario on Oct. 26.