The countdown to the end of his tenure as Mayor of Barrie is just days away, though Jeff Lehman hopes his exit from municipal politics is a short one.
Lehman told Barrie 360 on Thursday that he has filed to be the next District of Muskoka Chair.
After 12 years helping to steer the ship at Barrie City Hall, why Muskoka?
"My family has had a place, and we've been going to Huntsville since the mid-90s," says Lehman. "It's also a part of the province that I have worked in."
PODCAST: Jeff Lehman Talks ABout Political Future (and more local news)
Lehman also believes it is an area of the province where his experience can help.
"I believe I have got a background that can assist with some of the issues facing the District, and those include housing and bringing permanent jobs to the area."
There are two other candidates in the running to be the next District of Muskoka Chair.
Terry Pilger did not win the mayor's race in Gravenhurst in the October 24th municipal election, finishing second out of three candidates, but he has more than 26 years of council experience in the town, of which 17 were on the District of Muskoka council.
Don Smith, who was recently re-elected to Bracebridge council first got his feet wet in municipal politics in 2014, and is also in the running.
The position of District Chair is selected by the 22 members of the District of Muskoka Council.
Basically, the position is acting as the Chief Executive Officer of the District.
Lehman explains that is chairing meetings and representing the District to other levels of government.
Nominations for District Chair close at 4 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2002.
The inaugural meeting of council on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 is when the District Chair will be appointed.
The meeting takes place in Bracebridge in the council chamber at the District's administration building beginning at 3 p.m.
Banner image - file photo - Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman
