Two new councillors elected in South Huron

Newly elected mayor Ted Oke, left, and Coun. Aaron Neeb chat after the results of the municipal election were announced. Running in his third election, Neeb again topped the polls for Exeter Ward councillor.

By John Miner

When South Huron’s new municipal council officially takes over Nov. 15 there will be some fresh faces, some veterans, and some current councillors sitting in new positions.

The newcomers to the seven-member council as a result of the Oct. 26 municipal election are Paul Passmore in Usborne Ward 3 and Laura Goulding in Exeter Ward 2.

Current councillor Aaron Neeb, first elected in 2018, topped the polls in the Exeter Ward again, while Marissa Vaughan, who is heading into her fourth term as councillor for Stephen Ward 1, won re-election by a wide margin.

Wendy McLeod-Haggitt is returning to council, but this time representing Stephen Ward 1. McLeod-Haggitt was appointed to fill an Exeter spot on council when Coun. Marc Denomme resigned in 2023.

Ted Oke, who represented Usborne on previous councils, is moving to the mayor’s chair after defeating incumbent George Finch. Milt Dietrich, current Ward 1 councillor, decided not to run in this election.

The only candidate acclaimed in the South Huron election was Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich.

Watching the announcement of the results on election night, Dietrich said he was encouraged by the vote.

“I think we are going to move ahead with a good council, some old ones, some new ones, some change in positions. I think it is going to be great,” Dietrich said.

“Hopefully we will do our job to help the people and the municipality move forward.”

Vaughan said she was honoured to be elected again.

“I’m thrilled, I’m thrilled,” she said.

During the campaign in Stephen, Vaughan said residents told her they would like to see council take a break on spending.

“We’ve spent a lot of good money for good projects in the last six years or so and maybe it is time to take a bit of an ease back and look for different types of things, maybe not needing as much in the way of housing development, but more in employment land development.”

McLeod-Haggitt said priorities in the Stephen Ward will be updating the play park equipment in Crediton and enhancing the park in Centralia.

One issue that was raised during the campaign by residents was speeding in Crediton. McLeod-Haggitt said she would support a traffic calming study in Crediton to see if a cross walk or other options would help.

With South Huron projected to grow from 10,000 residents to 15,000 by 2051, Neeb said more recreation will be needed.

“We are going to have to contend with that growth,” he said. “I’m hoping we can move a lot of things forward, including recreation, but also continue to invest in our infrastructure, making sure we leave the next generation better off than what we had it.”

Newcomer to council, Exeter Ward councillor Laura Goulding, said that over the next four years she is committed to being available, answering questions and collaborating with not-for-profit groups, neighbouring municipalities and organizations that hold the community together.

“We are an amazing community. As a municipal councillor I look forward to supporting strong, well considered progress.”

Goulding said she is grateful for the confidence the community has shown in her approach by choosing to vote for her.

“There were four incredible candidates which would have made the decision more difficult for many.”

In the Usborne Ward, which had the highest percentage turnout in the election, a major campaign issue was whether the ward should be represented by a resident, Paul Passmore, or someone living in the Exeter ward, Darren Boyle.

Passmore said he would like to see the rules changed so that someone has to either live in a ward or have property there in order to run for that area.

Another priority for Passmore is keeping taxes low. He said the municipality has done an acceptable job of managing increases over the past four years and he would like to see that continue.

If you ask people if they want recreation amenities such as walking trails, they will say yes, sure, but if you ask if they want to pay for it, they will say no, Passmore said.

Voter turnout by ward

Ward 1, Stephen – 41.7%

Ward 2, Exeter – 52.0%

Ward 3, Usborne – 52.6%

Election results

Mayor

Ted Oke elected, 2,033

George Finch, 1,516

Maureen Cole, 690

Deputy mayor

Jim Dietrich, acclaimed

Stephen Ward 1

Marissa Vaughan elected, 866

Wendy McLeod-Haggitt elected, 585

Emilly Girodat, 529

Dianne Faubert, 324

Exeter Ward 2

Aaron Neeb, elected, 1,501

Laura Goulding, elected, 1,024

Daryl Demaray, 695

Antonio Munion, 288

Usborne Ward 3

Paul Passmore, elected, 363

Darren Boyle, 192