Murray Fearrey hopes to extend his service on Dysart et al council to more than half a century.
The incumbent mayor (formerly reeve) has served on council for 47 years and is again seeking re-election in the riding in the heart of Haliburton County. Over that span, Fearrey has served two years as a councillor, two as a deputy reeve and 38 years as reeve/mayor.
He won the 2014 municipal election by 436 votes over businesswoman Janis Parker. During that campaign, Fearrey said it would be his last term but entered this year’s race two days after the nomination period opened.
Deputy mayor Andrea Roberts aims to end the streak of the 76-year-old Fearrey. Roberts, 56, first served on council in 2006 as Ward 1 councillor. She served a second time in 2010 and was elected the deputy reeve (now deputy mayor) in 2014.
Candidates
Mayor
Murray Fearrey (incumbent)
Andrea Roberts (current deputy mayor)
Deputy Mayor
Dennis Casey (current Ward 2 councillor)
Patrick Kennedy
Councillor Ward 1
Bram Lebo
Nancy Wood-Roberts (incumbent)
Councillor Ward 2
Larry Clarke
David McKay
Mike Stinson
Councillor Ward 3
Cindy Baumhour
Tammy Donaldson (incumbent)
Councillor Ward 4
John Smith
Aaron Walker
Councillor Ward 5
Walt McKechnie (incumbent)
Glenn Scott
The Municipality
The Municipality of Dysart et al is located in Haliburton County in central Ontario. Its primary town is Haliburton, one of the more popular retreats for “cottage country” in the province. Southern portions of Algonquin Provincial Park are also found in the municipality. Haliburton is home to a high school, Fleming College’s School of Arts campus and a small airport.
Fun fact: Incorporated in 1867, Dysart et al’s actual name is The Corporation of the United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde. This makes it the longest name of any place in Canada.
Population (2016):
6,280
Median total income of couple economic families with children (2015)/Ont. median
$113,913/$75,369
Crime Severity Index (2017) – municipal/Ont.
Not available/55.40
Violent Crime Severity Index (2017) – municipal/Ont.
Not available/68.69
Political representation
Federal
Jamie Schmale (Conservative) – Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
Provincial
Laurie Scott (Progressive Conservative) – Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock