Councilor Amy Martin wants to take her commitment to community service to another level.
Martin, elected to represent Ward 6 on Norfolk County Council in 2018, is running for mayor in this year’s municipal election. She filed her nomination papers on May 18 and as of Friday (May 20) at 3 pm was the only candidate for mayor.
“I’ve really enjoyed representing the residents of Ward 6 over the past four years and I want to provide that service to all of Norfolk County,” Martin said.
Martin said she announced her intentions early to ensure anyone else thinking about running for mayor knows she will be campaigning for Norfolk’s top municipally-elected position.
As well, Martin said she wants those thinking about running for council to know there will be an opening in Ward 6.
Martin was one of several first-time councilors elected to Norfolk County council in 2018 and the combined, or overall lack of experience, resulted in some challenging times. The council also had to deal with the global COVID-19 pandemic.
But Martin said she has spent a lot of time learning about the issues affecting Ward 6 and the rest of the county. As well, she’s worked hard to understand the nuances of municipal government.
Following the December 2021 release of a consultant’s report which focused on the effectiveness of council and how to improve it, Martin said councilors had to be open to training. She also said councilors needed to learn how to hold each other accountable by following proper procedures, rules and protocols.
During the second wave of COVID-19 in October 2020, Martin spent a day with Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit employees to learn more about contact tracing and the work done by the health unit.
“A willingness to learn is part of the job of being an effective councilor, representing your ward and your community,” Martin said. “I’m always learning and that’s something that makes being a councilor or mayor so interesting.
“It gives you the opportunity to learn more about your community and how to help move it forward.”
Martin easily won Ward 6 in the 2018 election receiving 2,242 votes or more than half of the 4,396 ballots cast. Adam Veri, her nearest rival, received 912 votes.
When it’s suggested that it would be safer to run for a second term on council representing Ward 6, Martin said her decision was based on how best to serve the community.
Mayor Kristal Chopp hasn’t yet announced her plans for the next municipal election to be held Oct. 24, 2022. Councilor Ian Rabbits (Ward 5) who has said he intends to run for mayor, hasn’t yet filed his nomination papers.
So far, the Norfolk County municipal election has attracted nine candidates including six for county council.
Incumbents Linda Vandendriessche, Mike Columbus and Chris Van Paassen have all registered their candidacies. Vandendriessche, was elected to represent Ward 2 in 2021 following the retirement of long-time councilor Roger Geysens. Columbus represents Ward 3 and Van Paassen represents Ward 4.
Other candidates running for a seat on Norfolk County Council include: Peter Black and Kristine Mitchell in Ward 5 and Peter Butler in Ward 6.
Municipal candidate registrations can be found at www.norfolkcounty.ca/government/elections/2022-municipal-election/ . The information is updated daily at 3 p.m.
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