MAPLETON – Lori Woodham has been appointed to fill the vacant seat on Mapleton council.
Woodham, who served as a Mapleton councillor from 2014 to 2018, is filling the seat vacated by former councillor Martin Tamlyn.
He resigned on Sept. 27 to fill a climate change coordinator position shared by Mapleton and Centre Wellington.
Two other candidates vied for the seat: Neil Driscoll and Jason Hutten.
Mayor Gregg Davidson and councillors Amanda Reid and Michael Martin voted for Woodham, while councillor Marlene Ottens voted for Driscoll.
The vote took place during a regular meeting of council on Nov. 12, after each of the candidates presented and responded to a range of questions from councillors.
Lori Woodham
Woodham told the Advertiser her biggest priority as councillor is listening; not only to residents’ concerns but also to the information in reports, policies and procedures, in order to find the best path forward.
“Public service is a rewarding and challenging endeavour,” she told council in response to Ottens asking about the highs and lows of Woodham’s first council term.
“It takes patience, broad vision and sometimes courage to ensure that the concerns of our citizens are handled in an attentive, fair and balanced manner.”
Woodham said she was “never shy in saying ‘With all due respect, I have to disagree’ …
“I always felt comfortable in … trying to represent what I believe the rate payers wanted me to say, or to help them understand better.”
And she doesn’t hesitate to ask questions, Woodham told the Advertiser.
Woodham said she opted not to run for a second term of council in 2018 because of personal circumstances, but that a lot has changed since then.
Her son is 20 now, so she’s not busy at home raising a child, and her husband has retired from his job with the Township of Mapleton, so Woodham will no longer need to leave discussions due to a pecuniary interest.
She said the latter was cumbersome for township staff, but she appreciated how they made adjustments so she could participate as much as possible.
Woodham is confident her past experience will reduce the learning curve during her return to council, but she noted there will still be learning to do, “as a lot has changed since 2018.”
Asked how her perspective and approach has changed since her first stint as councillor, Woodham told the Advertiser, “I’m a little older and a little wiser.
“I won’t take things quite so personally and to heart.”
She said during her first couple years on council, she worried about disappointing people, but she has learned it’s impossible to please every ratepayer.
“There are some really tough decisions that have to be made.”
She added, “I’m definitely looking forward to the next two years and doing the best that I can.”
Jason Hutten
Hutten is an Alma resident and father to three children, aged nine, seven and four.
He moved to Alma with his family in 2022 from Arthur, where they lived for eight years.
Hutton is a tool and die maker and works as shop supervisor at Emerson Electric in Elmira.
He coaches soccer and hockey and is the head councillor for his church’s Cadet program.
Hutton recently completed a three-year term as a church deacon.
Neil Driscoll
Driscoll served as Mapleton mayor from 2014 to 2018 and as councillor from 2010 to 2014.
He has lived on the same farm in the township since the 1970s, and said he’s very proud that each of his children, who he described as “all grown up,” are involved with agriculture.
Driscoll said Mapleton citizens encouraged him to put his name forward for the vacant council seat.
He is involved with the Optimist Club, Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society, Arthur Minor Lacrosse and the Ontario Truck and Tractor Pulls Association.
