BREAKING NEWS: Mayor Crewson – going out on top

September 10, 2014 · 0 Comments

Update: Who will be the next mayor, deputy mayor and councillors of Shelburne? That will depend on how you cast your ballot on Election Day, October 27th. As of now, there are two candidates running for the position of mayor. The current deputy mayor, Ken Bennington and Shelburne resident Frank Hunt Jr. For the position of deputy mayor, Geoff Dunlop, a current Shelburne councillor, has stepped forward. At press time (1:48 p.m. Thursday, September 11th, 2014) he is uncontested. For the five possible councillor-at-large positions, there are six running so far. Incumbents Tom Egan, Walter Benotto and Randy Chambers are looking to serve the community with another four year term. They are joined by Wade Mills, Dan Sample and Joshua Oatman on the ballot. The nomination process for the municipal election closes tomorrow (Friday, September 12th at 2 p.m.) Look to the Free Press for another update tomorrow afternoon, and be sure to check out the town website at www. townofshelburne.on.ca for full election details.

By Wendy Gabrek

At of four o’clock on Wednesday, September 10th, Ed Crewson, the highly popular Mayor of Shelburne, withdrew his candidacy from the upcoming Municipal Election. It is a bitter sweet step for Mayor Crewson, who admits he has shed a few tears over the decision. Ed Crewson loves the job, but recognizes innately the value and satisfaction of “going out on top.”
The Mayor revealed that earlier this week, he was writing his re-election brochure for the campaign, when he referred to an old election leaflet from 2003 – the last time he had run against another candidate. When he read it, he realized that he had accomplished everything he had set out to do at that election. “We did it all and more,” said Mayor Crewson, “the problems at the Mel Lloyd Centre are gone; we now have six doctors in town; we have the new soccer pitches; new industry and commercial development with KTH expanding, Joe Bojin’s industrial project at the south end of town, and a 120,000 square foot plaza approved in the east end. We now have enhanced healthcare with assisted living – even the tax rate is lower this year than four years ago. There was nothing I had wanted to do that I had not done.”
The Mayor insists that he “is not being chased” from office. “We have a good staff, with John Telfer, Scott Wheeldon, Carol Sweeney, and Chief Moore all doing a terrific job – and there is no crisis at the County level – it’s a good time to go.”
The Mayor made reference to the fact that, far too often, politicians stay too long and end their careers in turmoil.
“I know that my council respects me too much to run against me for the position of Mayor. There are good people waiting to take over…it is time to pass the torch.” Other Councillors have said they will only run for Council if I remain Mayor, but I have talked to them and asked them to stay – we need their strength and knowledge to continue what we started,” he told the Free Press.
Ed Crewson has served Shelburne on Council for 26 years, 17 of them as Mayor. He has served on County Council for 22 years and been the Chair of every County committee except for the “Roads Committee.” He also served two terms as Warden. There are few dull moments when Ed Crewson speaks from the Mayor’s chair, and the Council Chamber never seems the same when he is absent. He has been a fiery and passionate defender of his town with endless energy for the task and genuine compassion for those he served.
“It’s going to be hard not to be the Mayor,” he says, “it’s part of who I am… but not all.”

By Marni Walsh