Gravenhurst residents are heading to the polls in a few months, but the town already has its new mayor.
Current councillor Paul Kelly is being acclaimed as mayor after the nomination period closed with no contenders for the position. Since he won’t need to campaign, Kelly says he’ll instead be using the time to get to know his constituents.
Kelly says he’ll also have a chance to prepare for his new role so he can hit the ground running.
He says one major issue he’s ready to start tackling is the growing housing problem that’s not only affecting Gravenhurst but Muskoka as well. In preparation, he has plans to meet with developers, contractors, building officials and residents to talk about next steps to address and find a solution.
Kelly will be taking over from Mayor Paisley Donaldson, who announced earlier this year she would be stepping away from municipal politics. He will officially take on this new role in December.