Shortly after being appointed Dysart et al mayor on Tuesday (July 7), Walt McKechnie tried to rally the rest of council and township staff by calling on them to do former mayor Murray Fearrey proud by finishing this term “in the right way.”
The now-former deputy mayor will spend the next four months as head of council, seeing out this current term. The move was confirmed six weeks after Fearrey’s death, on May 28.
“This is such an honour for me to sit in this chair that Murray sat in for so many years, giving service to our community,” McKechnie said. “I think it’s our turn now to take the ball and run with it. We need to work very hard as a team over these next few months to get some things accomplished.”
McKechnie referenced three key projects he wanted to see progressed as much as possible between now and the Oct. 26 election – the expansion of the sewage treatment plant, development of the County Road 21 property, and finalizing a deal with Extendicare to bring a new long-term care home to town.
“Those are three things that Murray was so adamant about getting closer to finished so the next council would be ready to carry them on. That’s a great goal for us, I believe,” McKechnie said.
He was the only person to put his name forward for the temporary position. Ward 1 coun. Pat Casey considered opposing, though opted to go for the now-vacant deputy mayor position instead. He’ll face competition from Ward 2 coun. Nancy Wood-Roberts. Carm Sawyer, the Ward 4 representative, is now backing Casey rather than running himself.
CAO Tamara Wilbee outlined the process. She said anyone interested in filling the deputy mayor position must file their paperwork by noon July 21. Only current members of council are eligible to apply.
At its July 28 meeting, council will review any submitted correspondence from the public, with candidates given five minutes to state their case. Elected officials will be allowed to ask each candidate one question before placing their votes. Wilbee said voting will be done by show of hand.
Council will then have to declare that council seat vacant – though, because the election will be less than 90 days away, they won’t have to fill it, Wilbee confirmed. If a seventh member is wanted, she said council can appoint someone who ran in the vacant ward in the 2022 election, put out a call for nominees, or ask a former councillor who isn’t seeking re-election to step in.
Reflecting on Tuesday’s ceremony, McKechnie said he had lots of emotions and memories swirling within. He rode a wave of nostalgia as he reminisced on some of Fearrey’s accomplishments over the years – advocating for facilities such as J.D. Hodgson Elementary School, the Haliburton School of Art + Design, and the Haliburton hospital; bringing the Gardens of Haliburton retirement residence; and playing a key role in securing the land that today houses Head Lake Park.
“One thing Murray sure wouldn’t want was us being stuck in the past, though. We’ve got a job to do and we have to be professional and keep pushing forward,” McKechnie said.
“My position is only temporary, and I know that, but I’m really honoured and excited to be working with this council and to sit in that chair, seeing things through for the next little while,” he added.
McKechnie has confirmed he will seek re-election as deputy mayor in October’s election. There are three names vying for the top seat – Casey, former Ontario land surveyor Greg Bishop and businessman Andrew Nowell. Potential candidates have until Aug. 21 to submit their papers with Dysart township.
