With two days left, there are three nominees running for Muskoka District Chair in October.
Former Huntsville Mayor Hugh Mackenzie has filed his nomination papers. This year the District Chair will be voted on by the public instead of being appointed by regional councillors.
Mackenzie said in a press release that he was against what he sees as a move to single tier government in the area.
“The election has effectively become a referendum on single, upper-tier governance for Muskoka, eliminating all of the lower tier municipalities. I strongly oppose this,” Mackenzie said.
He goes on to say he believes the District government as it currently exists is “too fat, too remote and too unaccountable.”
Mackenzie’s concept is to offer a third alternative to Gord Adams and John Klinck, who are also running for the District Chair position.
“Focus on service delivery from the bottom up, rather than the top down,” he says. “It would eliminate unnecessary services and duplication at the District level and significantly reduce the cost of municipal services to taxpayers.”
Mackenzie is a partner in a local news organization and says he will step down from day to day operations of the online company and have no editorial decision making for the remainder of the campaign, which will wrap up with the October 22nd municipal election.