Hanover Deputy Mayor Selwyn “Buck” Hicks is returning as Grey County’s warden next year.
Hicks accepted the chain of office after being re-elected warden by way of a tiebreaker procedure at county council’s 2022 inaugural meeting Tuesday morning.
West Grey Mayor Christine Robinson was also in the running and finished tied with Hicks in a vote among county councillors.
The county’s procedure for settling a tie in an election of the warden is to draw names out of a box. Grey County Chief Administrative Officer Kim Wingrove was given the honour of dipping her hand into the ballot box with the two names and she drew Hicks.
This is the third term Hicks will serve as Grey County warden. In addition to 2021, he previously held the role in 2019.
In an address to his colleagues following the confirmation of results, Hicks promised to continue his level of work and enthusiasm as warden. He then described 2021 as “a unique and challenging year” that has left many people in the community fatigued.
“Sometimes that expression of fatigue and frustration is expressed to public servants in a manner that can be challenging,” Hicks said. “This can and does have an impact on us personally and on our families. I know that every elected representative (here) cares deeply about our community. I also know that your sacrifice is not always acknowledged. Moreover, I know that the sacrifice of partners and family members is rarely thought about.”
Hicks looked back on the work of county council in 2021 and highlighted progress on affordable housing. He applauded other county councillors for “taking up the challenge and responding” with the establishment of an affordable housing fund and the implementation of annual one per cent levy for affordable housing.
“In the last year alone, just over $1.1-million was dedicated to affordable housing as a result of those two initiatives,” Hicks explained. “Of course, we’re doing much more to address affordable housing. And the problem will not be resolved overnight. However, we demonstrated that we get it. We care. And we’re prepared to act.”
The Grey County warden then made a plea to county councillors to prioritize mental health and addictions in their work next year, urging them to “act boldly” on the issue “that requires urgent response.”
“Because this is an election year and our time is short, we will need to move quickly to achieve something meaningful in this term of council,” Hicks said. “It is my hope, that approximately 355 days from now, I will be able to report success on addressing mental health and addiction at a level equal to our achievement this year on affordable housing.”
Hicks added: “This is our legacy year. Together, county council we are going to knuckle down and finish our term on a high note. I want us to be remembered not for what we faced, but for our relentless commitment to achieve results for the people of Grey County despite what we faced.”
The warden serves a one-year term and is elected by county council members annually. In addition to chairing meetings, the warden fulfills a public post as the head of county council similar to a mayor in municipalities.
Grey Highlands Deputy Mayor Aakash Desai and Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus nominated Hicks for warden.