George Klosler appointed as Ward 3 councillor in SWOX

Debbie Kasman, Tillsonburg Post Correspondent

At its June 16 meeting, South-West Oxford (SWOX) council voted to appoint George Klosler as Ward 3 councillor, replacing Valerie Durston who passed away in April.

A by-election was not possible since the deadline for one in an election year has passed and appointing a next-place finisher from the last municipal election was not an option as Durston was acclaimed. Council called for applications for appointment to fill the vacant seat in May.

Klosler is recently retired from a career spanning 35 years in the agricultural finance sector, holding the position of Senior District Director with Farm Credit Canada for 13 years before retiring.

He is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service contributions, a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, past president of the Canadian 4-H Council, a current member of Dereham and District Lions Club and Lions International, and president of the Mount Elgin community hall board.

Klosler will hold the seat until the municipal election in October and has filed nomination papers to run for Ward 3 councillor in October.

He said he is eager to apply his knowledge of community development, financial oversight, and public engagement to serve the municipality. He is particularly interested in addressing key issues such as agricultural development, community services, financial constraints, public engagement, and the development of the new municipal building and park.

Klosler beat out John de Bruyn and Aaron Lonsberry who also applied for the position.

De Bruyn is a past president of Oxford County Junior Farmers and Oxford County Pork Producers, a past member of the County of Oxford Land Division Committee, a former chair of the Salford Landfill Liaison Committee, and a member of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. Lonsberry works as a traveling service technician, is a firefighter in Mount Elgin, and a local farmer.

Klosler will be sworn in at the July 14 meeting.

Both Klosler and de Bruyn plan to file nomination papers to run in October’s municipal election. It is not known at this time which wards they plan to run in. Candidates do not have to live in a specific ward to run for councillor in that ward.

The township approved new ward boundaries last July, but these boundary changes will not take effect until the new council is organized after voting day on Oct. 26.

Nomination papers have currently been filed as follows: Paul Buchner for Ward 1, Pete Ypma for Ward 2, William Van Lagen for Ward 3, Isaiah Friend for Ward 4, David (Dave) Mitchell for Ward 6, and Craig Gillis for mayor.

Mary Holmes is the only candidate to put her name forward to date for school board trustee. Holmes is running for trustee of the London District Catholic School Board.