MAPLETON — Lori Woodham has the 2025 budget on her mind after being elected as Mapleton's newest councillor.
One of three candidates who put their hat in the ring after a call for applications to replace former councillor Martin Tamlyn, three of four councillors voted for Woodham after brief presentations from each applicant and a question and answer period at a Mapleton council meeting Tuesday evening.
Among the other candidates, former Mapleton mayor and councillor Neil Driscoll received one vote and resident Jason Hutten received none.
"I'm pleased," said Woodham in a follow-up interview with EloraFergusToday. "I do look forward to representing Mapleton township again and I'm very very happy."
Speaking fondly of her past years as a councillor, Woodham said she's looking forward to discussing the 2025 budget, working with the current council and making informed decisions "for the benefit of all Mapleton Township residents."
Woodham served as Mapleton councillor from 2014 to 2018 and is the current chair of the township's committee of adjustment.
"If you're looking for someone on council to ask questions on your behalf, research policies and procedures and ensure each of us is treated fairly, then I'm that person," said Woodham. "I believe that policies and procedures should be in place to protect all residents of Mapleton and be transparent to all, I look forward to working with the newly elected mayor and fellow councillors, along with staff, to have a team that is responsible to you the ratepayer."
When asked what the best and worst things about her previous time on council were, Woodham said she was "never shy" to state her opinion and still believes it's important to represent what ratepayers want her to say or "to help them understand better."
"The public service is a rewarding and challenging endeavour. It takes patience, broad vision and sometimes courage to ensure the concerns of our citizens are handled in an attentive, fair and balanced manner. That's how I believe as councillors we should approach things," said Woodham.
Going forward, Woodham will soon attend a two-hour meeting on Nov. 18 with the CAO, clerk and chief financial officer for an update on the 2025 budget process and status, which she said she's very excited about. She will also attend a public meeting open house on Nov. 18 on the proposed budget at the PMD Arena.
"This new budget that we have is like the road map," said Woodham. "We should really be able to do some fabulous things with the next five years."
Woodham will be sworn in at the Nov. 26 council meeting.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
