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Vol 10, No. 49 Wednesday, December 3, 1980 Regional chairman eleeted today By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Amidst charges of political "deal-niaking" the 1981- 82 Durham Regional Couneil will be sworn in today and then take up their first officiai duty, electing the regional chairman. Sometime today, council wll elect the new chairman to succeed the retlring Walter Beath who bas been the political head of the region since its creation in 1973. As of press time, t.here were two announcedcan- didates for the post, Regional Councillor John Aker and Uxbridge Mayor Gary Herrama. These two men are different, not only in background but in political style as well. Touted as the. "urban"' candidate, Aker has sat on Oshawa City Council for eight years, the last six of which he bas also served on Durham Regional Council. Aside froin these two duties, Aker bas been the chairman of the region's finance committee for the last four years and earlier this year was appointed to the city's executive. Aker is 37 years old and -is the major shareholder in an Oshawa i nsurance cornpany. The other candidate, Herrama is a 41 year old dairy fariner from the village of Leasksdale, just north of Uxbridge. Herrama also serves as the chairman of the region's public works.. Should council not elect a chairman within seven dayir of taking office, then the chairmanship should be decided by the toss of a coin or the provincial gover- ninent could be asked to appoint one. If this happens, it couid appoint anyone it pleases, not necessarily someone already on council. ýSantaCla «us parade Sat durdruay* This Saturday, the Whitby Jaycees wil hold their annual Santa Claus Parade beginning at 10 a.m. The parade wiil begin at the Denis OConnor High School on Giffard Street going east to Cochrane Street L.-ere&it wlll t-n.s- t6-t Dunas SreetWest Th John Houghton of the Whltby Badminton Club watches the bîrdie as It salis, hopefully back over the net. Houghton part icipated in an Ontario Badminton "B" Tournament hosted last weekend by the Whitby YMCA Badminton Club. The tournament attracted 92 competitors representlng 12 clubs from the Central Ontario Badminton Association. More phots and story on sports page. -Free Press Photo by Stephen Greenaway REE P Sý 32 Pages -w '4» O.K. John, watch -tbee bîrdîe Oe