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I NE IIIT == = ------ 4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 14, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" SCUGOG VOTES: MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2000 Carruthers edg By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Veteran councillor Ken Carruthers edged Bobbie Drew in the race for regional council in last night's municipal elec- tion. While the numbers were rel- atively close throughout the evening, Mr. Carruthers pushed ahead as the night was winding down. This will be his fourth term as a member of Scugog Council. He has spent the past two terms representing Ward 2, and one term as Ward | councillor before that. "I'm certainly pleased with this," said Mr. Carruthers, as the results continued to be posted, giving him a secure lead over Mrs. Drew. "This has shown that the vot- ° ers generally want experience representing them at regional council." Throughout the evening, as results were posted, it appeared as though Mr Carruthers had a solid lead. At no time during the evening did he trail his com- petitor, and, more importantly, he enjoyed a secure lead in each ward. "Bobbie Drew gave me a very good challenge, and it's unfortu- nate that one of us had to lose. | hope to do my best to repre- sent each and every ward, the township as a whole, to the highest possible standards," he said, shortly before 11 p.m. last night. When the new council takes office next month, Mr. Carruthers said they will be greeted with two large, and very Margin of victory is solid Outgoing regional councillor Ken Gadsden (left) joins Durham Region Chairman Roger Anderson in congratulating Mayor Doug Moffatt on reelection last night. The mayor will be joined by Ken Carruthers at the region in the upcoming term. important issues. "We have to have discussions about amalgamation and garbage immediately," said Mr. Carruthers. "Amalgamation first; we have to make some major decisions about our future, and we will start to look at it now." He also said that the council has to look at the entire town- ship, and mot just the central Port Perry area. "There are some things out- side of Port Perry that need to be addressed, such as road con- ditions," said Mr. Carruthers. "And we also have to keep looking at our parks and recre- ation programs and facilities. | certainly support those and | don't want to see us take a step back." As for the future, Mr Carruthers says it will be a very busy time, and a particularly challenging one. "There are a lot of questions that need answers when it comes to our future here in Scugog.... where we'll be in the next three years," he said. "I think one of the big things people were looking at was my experience. | think a big factor was that | have been on council for nine years now, and I think | es Drew in regional race know the local issues here which are important to the peo- ple. I have more than a passing understanding of what's going on." He also noted that his close friendships to the two tormer regional councillors -- Ken Gadsden and Marilyn Pearce -- will also be an asset in the future. "I can use their experiences and knowledge to my advan- tage, and know what to expect." As for Mrs. Drew, he noted that it was a shame for Scugog to lose a valued and respected long time representative. She has served the past 12 years on the public school board repre- senting the township. "It's unfortunate that one of us had to lose. Her knowledge of the community and her con- tributions to the township were great, and it is a loss for Scugog," he said. "But there has to be a loser, that's straight mathematics." When reached by The Port Perry Star shortly after 11:30 p.m. last night, Mrs. Drew opted not to comment on the outcome of the election. Returning Mayor Doug Moffatt cautiously called the election around 11 p.m., when he introduced his new council to the crowd gathered at the Scugog Community Centre. Mr. Carruthers was among those who took to the microphone to accept his win. At last count, The Star had Mr. Carruthers leading Mrs. Drew with a total of 3,932 votes to her 3,066. All numbers are unofficial and have not been confirmed. Moffatt prevails for a second term as mayor in fight with foe Hall From page 1 He predicted that municipal restructuring will be the prima- ry issue to face the municipali- ty in the coming term, and that it's looming large on the hori- zon. "Before June," Mayor Moffatt said when asked how soon he expects the province to pursue amalgamation for Durham Region. "If the provincial govern- ment has not acted on it by June, it ain't going to happen." He also said he wants his new council to quickly review a report on swimming pools, which is due in January, and plot a course of action. He wants a new outdoor pool to be in operation by this summer. This campaign was an acri- monious one, with Mr. Hall launching his candidacy with a scathing attack on the incum- bent earlier this fall. Mayor Moffatt said his choice to pur- sue the high road in the face of the negative campaign was appreciated by voters. "I believe the numbers show that the campaign we ran was the campaign the people want- ed to see," he said. He said his former council had operated well, dealing with challenges such as download- ing and tax revisions effective- ly, and avoiding crises. "We lost a million bucks," he said, referring to greatly reduced transfer payments from the province, which, com- bined with an increased load of services passed on to munici- palities, presented a profound budget challenge. But Scugog's council responded, and managed to keep taxes under control, said the mayor. And he said the residents of Scugog recognized that. "I didn't hear any com- plaints," he said, when asked of the response he'd got from vot- ers while campaigning. The new council sworn in Dec. 4. will be Mayor Doug Moffatt addresses election watchers gath- ered at Scugog Community Centre last night. He was reelected to a second term.