Andrea Macko enters race for St. Marys council

Local business owner and former journalist and municipal events coordinator Andrea Macko is running for a seat on St. Marys council in the Oct. 26 municipal election.

By Galen Simmons

Andrea Macko is hoping more than two decades of experience as a St. Marys business owner, volunteer, journalist and former municipal employee will earn her a seat around the council table following the Oct. 26 municipal election.

Macko and her husband moved to St. Marys from Toronto in 2003, and she said her involvement in municipal life since then has given her a varied understanding of the community and how the town operates.

“What I’ve learned during my time as a business owner, volunteer and municipal staff member can help inform and guide St. Marys toward being an even better community than it already is,” Macko said.

A journalist by trade, Macko spent five years covering town council and municipal affairs for the former St. Marys Journal Argus. She and her husband have also owned Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home since 2003, where she manages finances and administration, and hosts funeral services.

Her community involvement has included seven years on the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation board, fundraising for the town’s tennis-court reconstruction and serving on the St. Marys Farmers’ Market and Terry Fox Run committees. She was named St. Marys Citizen of the Year in 2014 and currently serves on the town’s heritage and culture advisory committee.

Macko also worked for the municipality as its first events coordinator from 2017-2022, organizing and fundraising for events including the Heritage Festival, WinterLights and Remembrance Day.

If elected, Macko said affordability and stability would be among her priorities.

“Municipal government can help ensure that residents are receiving good value for their taxes, making the town more affordable to live in, in a variety of ways,” she said.

Macko wants the next council to update the town’s strategic plan, last released in 2017, while continuing to scrutinize shared-service costs, provincial downloading and municipal spending.

Housing is another priority. Macko said St. Marys needs more apartments, townhouses and semi-detached homes to provide options for young people, renters and seniors looking to downsize. She would also like to expand incentives for accessory units and downtown housing.

Downtown vacancies are also a concern. While Macko credited the Downtown St. Marys BIA for its work beautifying the core, she said the town needs to encourage new businesses and explore ways of discouraging long-term storefront vacancies.

Having served on the downtown services location review committee, Macko said she is excited about the potential of the town’s 14 Church St. N project, but stressed it must be balanced against other financial pressures.

“We need to balance this excitement with diligent financial planning, fundraising and operational logistics,” she said, particularly as other municipal facilities require significant repairs.

Macko said a councillor’s primary responsibility is to represent residents while considering staff recommendations, something that requires elected officials to remain active in the community and listen to residents.

Her campaign will similarly focus on community engagement, both in person and through social media.

“If you’re looking for a councillor who has a broad understanding of St. Marys, who has a track record of building community and who approaches issues in a collaborative, positive manner, I’m your candidate.”

To speak with Macko about her campaign, direct message her on Facebook or Instagram, call her at 519-280-1240, or email andrea.h.macko@gmail.com. Out of respect for the families she serves, Macko asks residents not to drop in unannounced at the funeral home and to contact her first to schedule an appointment to discuss the municipal election.