Oct. 24 was election day

I'm proud to be 1 of 7 members of City Council for the next 4 years with Jerry Acchione to be the next Mayor

The 2022 municipal elections have been completed and with 23 people running for 7 positions on Woodstock City Council, the electorate has decided who will serve in The Friendly City for the next 4 years.

I want to take this moment to thank everyone who assisted in my campaign as a 4th place finish among 13 City-only prospects has resulted in yours truly getting re-elected. Kate Leatherbarrow had the most votes, while Liz Wismer-VanMeer and Connie Lauder are also set to sit on City Council. Lauder, who has been acting mayor since February without additional renumeration, is the star in my books as she has been required to make dozens of public appearances with a speech in hand and has also participated in Oxford County Council.

Not to take the thunder away from the new mayor, but it was 2-term council member Jerry Acchione prevailing in a race of 6 as David Hilderley was 2nd in tabulation and Anthony Scalisi was 3rd. The remaining members in the competition were now-former-mayor Trevor Birtch, plus Peter Croves and Henry Biro.

The top two vote collectors in the City / County ballots were newcomer Bernia Wheaton and veteran council member Deb Tait.

After more than 30 years of service, Sandra Talbot was unable to hold her seat at the dual City / County forums. Talbot played in an integral role in many decisions over the past 4 decades (90s, 00s, 10s, 20s), and to note her impressive resume, I will print here her personal description as submitted to The Sentinel-Review  . . . 

SANDRA TALBOT

Three years as a city councillor, 29.5 years as a city-county councillor and stints as deputy mayor and Oxford County’s deputy warden. I have also been a past board member for Woodstock Hospital; Southwestern public health, police services, the library, the art gallery, the Woodstock Museum, the Woodstock Downtown BIA, the committee of adjustment, the planning committee, the fire services committee, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority; the Local Architectural Conservation advisory committee; the sister city committee, the agricultural society and the Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce.

Sandra Talbot has had a stellar career of contributions, dedication and love for her hometown. She deserves to be recognized at the last council meeting of this term on Nov. 4 with a standing ovation.

CEREMONY

The newly elected group of 7 will have its inauguration on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The official first meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

However, the work begins well before then with Oxford County orientation at noon on Nov. 8. I saved my book from 2018 and look forward to chatting with the 4 other new mayors from around the county. I have talked many times already with new Ingersoll mayor Brian Petrie as we are both on the UTRCA board of directors.

A full-day of learning for all on Woodstock City Council is Nov. 9. It could also be called an orientation as background details will be explored on all topics currently on the council's agenda / horizon, including how budget timetables evolve.  The first capital budget session for the 2023 balance sheet is on Nov. 22. As I have stated previously, Woodstock implements a 5-year rolling budget on capital projects (new buildings, renovations and additions, streets, fleet vehicles, technology, etc, etc.), but only the 2023 plan is approved and the remaining 4 years are a guideline.

I look forward to the next 4 years, and once again thank everyone for showing support in me at the ballot box. I will add that election day was nervous times -- calm numbness for sure for me -- as I and all candidates stare at the clock patiently waiting for polls to close and thumb drives with numbers entered for the official count.