Longtime resident Scott Morrison has officially announced his candidacy to become the next mayor of Huntsville.
Morrison, who currently serves as both a Town and District councillor, said his decision to run is rooted in a long-standing commitment to the community and a desire to continue making a difference at the municipal level.
Morrison moved to Huntsville in 1992 at the age of 16, and after moving away for school and travel, he returned to the area to raise a family. After selling his real estate brokerage in 2021, he entered municipal politics and was elected to council in 2022.
“I always wanted to look at serving the community by being on council,” Morrison said. “I’ve been following local politics for decades and I knew that the people around that table can have a significant impact on the town and the people that live in it.”
Morrison said he now feels ready to dedicate himself full-time to the role of mayor.
“It was time for me to put my hat in the ring and see what I can do to make this town a better place to live,” he said.
During his time on council, Morrison said he has gained valuable experience, personal knowledge, and community connections, and believes he can continue to have a meaningful impact as mayor. His main priorities include affordable housing and healthcare, two issues he said remain top concerns for residents.
Morrison has served on several local boards and organizations, including the Muskoka Community Land Trust, the Municipal Accommodation Tax Association, and Mind-Aid Muskoka.
Among his accomplishments, Morrison said he initiated a 17-point affordable housing action plan and brought forward a motion at District Council calling for an independent third-party review of the development approvals process aimed at reducing delays and lowering costs. He also helped create and expand a physician recruitment program that has brought eight new physicians to the region since 2024.
“It’s one thing to say you care about something, but you have to actually put the time in and get involved in organizations that can help make it happen,” he said.
Morrison added that keeping taxes low will also be a major focus of his campaign.
“My goal is to have an impact on the day-to-day lives of the residents and will be committing to an extremely low level of tax increases, if any,” he said. “I’ve got a track record over the last four years of thinking outside the box and looking for change as to how we do things at both the district and municipal level.”
