municipal election Archives — Lindsay Advocate

Letham likely to return to private sector after 2022 election

Published on May 11, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

One of the most difficult decisions for most politicians to make is to know when it is time to walk away and do something else.

In a telephone interview with the Advocate, Mayor Andy Letham shared his reasons for announcing he will not seek a third term in 2022, where he thinks council is headed, the pros and cons of a smaller council and what the future holds for him post-politics.

The decision

“I decided a while ago not to run (for a third term),” Letham said, “and if other people are thinking about it they can now put their minds to it. I don’t want to be seen as pretending (I am interested in a third term). I can now be as frank as I want to be. Council knew a month ago when I told them in closed session. Two terms was my goal. I like what we have done and where we are going.”

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New sign bylaw approved with improved wording

Published on April 23, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

Kawartha Lakes council gave final approval to a new election sign bylaw that will regulate the size, placement, quality and retrieval of election signs for municipal, provincial and federal elections beginning immediately.

One very important wording change was made in the bylaw at the suggestion of Ward 6 councillor Ron Ashmore.

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Letham will not stand for a third term as mayor

Published on April 21, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham will not be running for a third term.

He informed council at their regularly scheduled April 20 meeting of his decision. “I will not be running in the next election,” Letham told council. “We have accomplished much together as a team and we have much more to do. Let’s keep going.”

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City takes first step to change rules for election signs

Published on April 18, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

With the possibility of a federal, provincial and municipal election in 2022, council has unanimously voted in principal to update the by-law currently in place regarding the size, content and placement of candidates’ signs anywhere in the city.

City clerk Cathie Ritchie and deputy clerk Joel Watts presented council with their recommendations in written form. These recommendations were motivated by their experience and the public complaints that emanated from the 2018 municipal election.

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City’s 2018 election data shows more young adults need to be engaged

Published on January 21, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

Kawartha Lakes released a detailed breakdown of the 2018 municipal election as part of a proposal for changes to the 2022 municipal election tentatively approved by council on Jan. 12. The numbers make it clear that voter turnout for municipal elections needs improvement, both in Kawartha Lakes and the rest of Ontario.

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City recommends internet and telephone voting for 2022 election

Published on January 12, 2021 in Municipal by Kirk Winter

Kawartha Lakes council unanimously recommended at their Jan. 12 committee of the whole meeting that the city permanently adopt the combination of internet and telephone voting for future municipal elections that was first experimented with in 2018.

City clerk Cathy Ritchie asked that the internet/telephone vote be kept for the upcoming Oct. 24, 2022 city-wide election.

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Let’s have ranked ballots in time for next election

Published on November 7, 2018 in Community/Opinion by Trevor Hutchinson

How I’ll be voting in this federal election

Talking about the next municipal election right after the most recent one is like talking about alcohol the day after a big party: For some people, even the mere mention brings discomfort.

But I would argue now is the exact time that we as citizens — with and through our elected officials — should be talking about it. Let’s face it — the most recent election raised a couple important issues: how we vote in the first place, and how we can get consensus in our wards.

How do we want to vote?

Most citizens who bothered to vote (or perhaps tried to vote, in our case) are aware that, like 48 other municipalities, the City of Kawartha Lakes’ election had to be extended an additional 24 hours because of technical problems with the company hired to administer our online-and-phone-only election, Dominion Voting. (Dominion Voting originally reported the problem affected 51 municipalities but has since reduced that number to 49).

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City provides clarification on election night events; James says process still troubles him

Published on October 27, 2018 in Community/Local News by Roderick Benns

The City of Kawartha Lakes has provided a written response to members of the media — and at least one candidate — over what some thought were potential irregularities about the voting process on election night. But Candidate Gord James, who was present that evening, is not satisfied with the response — especially about the role played by scrutineers.

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Breaking: Gord James says handling of election process ‘doesn’t pass the smell test’

Published on October 25, 2018 in Around Town/Community/Local News by Trevor Hutchinson

The campaign team of mayoral candidate Gord James has written a letter to the City Clerk requesting to see the original election data from Dominion Voting for the City of Kawartha Lakes municipal election results.

The team has also asked for an official response as to why the results were tabulated/received by City election staff without the candidates’ scrutineers present.

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Yes, please and thank you: Elections, ramen noodles, and bad manners

Published on October 25, 2018 in Around Town/Community/Opinion by Denis Grignon

By the time you read this, our municipal election results will have finally been tallied – (No, honest! We mean it, this time! Hey, where are you going? Come back here!). A few candidates’ signs will have even been removed from intersections and road sides. Some will have been mulched by grass cutting equipment.

Many, however, will have been, um, appropriated and re-purposed by citizens — stapled to barn walls where snow used to blow in on the hen’s roosts, the kids’ bicycles and that paddle board you last used in 2004.

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