Taylor won’t seek re-election to Peterborough County warden seat
New Selwyn Township Mayor Andy Mitchell won’t be running either
County Warden Joe Taylor says his single term in the post is enough and he won’t run again.
Taylor, who was elected warden in 2016 after serving as deputy reeve of Otonabee-South Monaghan Township, was acclaimed reeve of the township in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
“After considerable thought and discussion with my wife Karen, I have decided not to seek re-election for the next term of warden,” Taylor wrote in a statement issued Monday morning.
“I want to thank county council for selecting me as their warden, it has been a privilege to represent them and the County of Peterborough for the past two years.”
County wardens are elected every two years by a vote of county council, which is made up of the 16 mayors, deputy mayors, reeves and deputy reeves of the county’s eight townships.
That council took on a new shape with several new faces elected to those posts in the October municipal elections. That council has not yet met.
The new council will be inaugurated on Dec. 12; at that time, an election will be held for warden.
It wasn’t clear on Monday who will run to replace Taylor as warden.
J. Murray Jones, an incumbent who was acclaimed as the mayor of Douro-Dummer Township in
the election, wasn’t available for comment Monday.
Jones was warden for seven years before Taylor defeated him in 2016.
Andy Mitchell, who won as mayor of Selwyn Township on Oct. 22, told The Examiner he doesn’t plan to run for warden.
Mitchell has been a Liberal MP and cabinet minister: he was first elected in the 1993 federal election in the Parry Sound-Muskoka riding before serving as a cabinet minister in the Jean Chretien and Paul Martin governments.
He is also a former deputy reeve in Selwyn and member of county council.
Scott McFadden, the re-elected mayor of Cavan Monaghan Township, didn’t comment Monday when asked whether he would be interested in running for warden.
Meanwhile Taylor wrote in his statement that he was grateful to a lot of people, following his two years as warden.
“I also need to thank our outstanding staff for providing me with everything required to fulfil my responsibilities,” he wrote.
“I am committed to doing whatever is necessary to allow a smooth transition and a successful term for the next warden for the County of Peterborough.”