It’s still 15 months away but next year's municipal election will be an interesting one in the town of Goderich.
For the first time in nearly 20 years there will be a race for the mayor's seat.
Mayor Deb Shewfelt is an institution in Goderich, he has been the town's mayor for the past 19 year and although he's well into his golden years, he's not ready to give up just yet.
“I guess I’ve given a good part of my life to the community of Goderich and I’m proud of it, and what’s another four years."
But unlike the past four elections where Shewfelt was uncontested and therefore acclaimed, next October he'll be joined on the ballot by Kevin Morrison, a city councillor who knows he's taking on the Hazel McCallion of midwestern Ontario.
"I work well with Deb and I have a lot of respect for Deb, I mean I love the guy, but I also take a look at my involvement with the Heritage Committee, and the rebuild of the downtown, working with the people and empowering the people that way to make our community better. I just feel the timing is right for me to step up to the plate and we’ll see what happens."
Morrison may well have been the only candidate had the tornado not struck Goderich almost two years ago. Shewfelt was ready to step aside but now feels there's too much left to accomplish to walk away.
“We’ve got another five years to go on what needs to be done to get us out of the tornado area and I think it’s important that we stick to our knitting,” Shewfelt says.
Locals appear split on the impending decision they'll have to make, although many say they are pleased they'll at least have a mayoral race in 2014, the first time they'll get to vote for mayor in 17 years.
Resident Jim Craig says "I believe it is time for change and change could be good for the future of Goderich in general."
Resident Mary Passchier adds "As far as how Goderich has been led in the last little while…the mayor did a good job."
Campaigning can't officially begin until January, but the discussion over who the next mayor of Goderich should be has already begun.
