Former Gravenhurst councillor Terry Pilger is in the running to be the next District of Muskoka Chair.
Pilger finished second in the race to be the next mayor of Gravenhurst in the recent municipal election, losing to Heidi Lorenz. Prior to the election, he spent 26 years on town council, including 17 as a district councillor.
Potential candidates have until Nov. 15 to submit their application to run to be district chair.
With the retirement of former District of Muskoka Chair John Klinck, a new one will be chosen for the 2022 to 2026 term of council.
Klinck has served as district chair since 2010.
If more than one candidate runs for the position, Amy Back, district clerk, says a debate will be held with questions submitted by district councillors, members of the public, and the media. It will be moderated by Bracebridge lawyer Jean Polak, who was appointed by council in June. They approved an honorarium payment of $350 for Polak.
A secret ballot vote will be held at the first district council meeting with the newly sworn-in councillors on Dec. 5. Preceding that, each candidate will be able to address council. A majority of votes will be needed. If there is a tie, the candidate with the fewest vote will be eliminated.
District council is made up of the mayors of the six municipalities in Muskoka. As well, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, and Muskoka Lakes have three district councillors, while Lake of Bays and the Township of Georgian Bay have two.
If there’s only one candidate, Back says they will be appointed by resolution.