COUNTY OF WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington mayor Kelly Linton will be serving as warden for 2021-2022 term after being acclaimed to the position.
At Friday’s inaugural warden’s meeting, Linton was the only council member who put himself forward for the role.
Wellington county wardens serve two-year terms and are selected by a secret vote among members of the county government.
No voting was required at this meeting as all positions were acclaimed for the next two years.
Linton first served on county council starting in 2014 when he was elected mayor.
He was then voted to be warden in 2018 defeating Ward 1 county councillor David Anderson of Minto.
“This has to be one of the most unique inaugural meetings that we’ve ever had,” Linton said, referencing that the circumstances of the pandemic meant it had to be a hybrid of in-person and virtual attendance.
“I really do wish we could all be in person together to kick-off this second-half of our council term together but as the Rolling Stones taught us, ‘you can’t always get what you want.’”
Linton previously told GuelphToday that the next warden’s term will be defined by the continued response to the pandemic and leadership during a particularly tough budget for 2021.
“I’m truly honoured to have the confidence of my colleagues to continue on as warden through the remaining two years of our council term,” Linton said.
There was also an Indigenous smudge ceremony and detailed land acknowledgement which Linton said he was glad to have included at the inaugural warden’s meeting as a reminder of the county’s rich indigenous history.
All committee chair positions were also acclaimed from the previous two years.
Chairs of the county’s standing committees are:
- Wellington North mayor Andy Lennox, roads committee
- Guelph/Eramosa mayor Chris White, administration, finances and human resources committee
- Minto mayor George Bridge, economic development committee
- Councillor Mary Lloyd, information, heritage and seniors committee
- Erin mayor Allan Alls, land division and planning committee
- Councillor David Anderson, social services committee and chosen as member of Wellington County OPP police services board
- Mapleton mayor Gregg Davidson, solid waste services committee
