MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – First-term councillor Greg Harris has been elected deputy reeve of Mountain View County, replacing Angela Aalbers.
Councillors voted on the position during the Oct. 28 organizational meeting, which saw Bruce Beattie re-elected as reeve by acclamation.
“Thank you council for your support,” said Beattie. “It is very much appreciated and I’m really looking forward to this next year. It is really great to have the confidence of council. It is not taken for granted in any way.”
The reeve is the principal spokesperson for the municipality, sitting on all committees and chairing council meetings.
The deputy reeve acts in the reeve’s place when he or she is not available.
Coun. Peggy Johnson nominated Aalbers, and Coun. Dwayne Fulton nominated Harris.
A secret ballot was then held and Harris was declared the winner.
“I’ve been (on council) for three years now and I think I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the operation of the county,” said Harris, a former police officer. “I’m very proud of this council and staff and directors that we have in the county. I think it is a strong team.
“We are going into unprecedented times and challenges. I think we are going to have to look at some changes and some new ways of looking at things that will take us forward and keep us in a strong position, and that includes keeping taxes down and finding ways to deliver the services that we’ve always delivered but perhaps in different ways.
“I would look to the support of council to prepare us not just this year but the coming four years after that when we will be looking at many more changes.”
Following the election, Beattie thanked Aalbers for her past service as deputy reeve.
