Smith hoping for another term representing EZT Ward 3
By Lee Griffi
Jeremy Smith has been an East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) councillor for five terms, and he’s hoping to make it six.
The 25-year Innerkip resident is a married father of two adult daughters, one a teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board and the other working in therapeutic recreation with local long-term care homes across Oxford County, including in Tavistock.
Smith is a retired radio personality and now works in maintenance and facilities with a global Tier 1 automotive supplier.
“Any given day, I can be seen strolling Innerkip with our beloved Australian cattle dog, Ozzy, and cycling the streets and roadways of Ward 3,” he said.
He is a past member of the Innerkip Community Centre Board of Management and past director of the Innerkip Seniors Apartment.
Smith said there are several reasons why he is seeking another term.
“As you can well imagine, as the end of term nears, there’s invariably a sense of unfinished business. In the upper echelon, continued attention to detail to our fiscal responsibility to ratepayers and residents in East Zorra-Tavistock.”
He added the township is blessed with an excellent treasury department led by CAO Karen DePrest.
“We continue to receive top marks from the province for our annual financial information return and from our external auditor on our internal books. We have a collaborative council that has been committed to and successful in delivering one of the lowest tax rates in all of Oxford County. In each budget cycle in this term of council, we’ve been in the black with a generous surplus tallying over a million dollars, all told.”
Smith said the township is the envy of many municipalities as East Zorra-Tavistock is on track to become completely debt-free sometime in 2028. He also explained the next council will have some big issues to deal with.
“We’re still advancing our secondary plan to completion; an initiative that could see the boundaries of Innerkip and Tavistock expanded for future growth. We’re expected to hear the latest from the county, our consultant and EZT staff in the final quarter of this year, but that could bridge into the next term of council.”
He added the township will also be looking at its Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2027.
“I believe we’ve made inroads over the last few years, but there’s a lot more work to do as we continue to consider the list of recommendations that master plan included. Along those lines, we’ll return to discussing the prospect of a multi-use recreation facility for the township. It won’t be long before we add to our green space inventory in each of our villages, either through land purchase (Hickson) or future residential development (Innerkip and Tavistock), which will create opportunities for new place-making in our community.
“So, as you can see, there are many things I’d like to help to work toward in the home stretch and, ultimately, the finish line.”
In the community safety file, he explained overall road safety and driver behaviours on county roads, in villages and on residential streets are top of mind for many.
“Speeding has become chronic. We have to continue working on traffic-calming ideas, enforcement initiatives with our police service and influencing an overall culture shift to not only prevent incidents and injuries but also make pedestrians and cyclists — and anyone using our streets alongside motor vehicles — feel safe and secure.”
Smith brought forth a motion earlier this year asking staff to complete a report on what a speed reduction on residential streets could look like. The topic will be on a future agenda.
He added another hot-button issue will be the upcoming boundary adjustment.
“I fully expect the City of Woodstock to ask for a reopening of that dialogue as development there continues to push northeast along our border. Of course, that’s something that affects ratepayers and residents of the area I currently represent more than any other.”
Smith said his record as a councillor speaks for itself.
“I bring a collaborative spirit to council and I’m always open to conversation. I believe I’ve always had the trust of council colleagues and township staff in any term I’ve served. My approach has always included a commitment to excellence, being responsive to concerns, working to find solutions and more than anything, an accountability to ratepayers and residents.”
He added it would be an honour to serve the people of East Zorra-Tavistock in the next term.
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