The new Warden of Grey County is Arlene Wright.
Wright — a City County Councillor from Owen Sound — defeated Southgate Deputy Mayor Brian Milne in an election last night in the councils inaugural session for 2010.
Shes the second female warden in the countys history, and the first since Lois Urstadt of the former Sarawak Township held the post in 1982.
Wright is also the first warden from Owen Sound since the city rejoined Grey County in 2000.
Wright says Owen Sound can expect no special treatment from the county now that one of its councillors is in the top post.
She said in her inaugural address she’s looking forward to working with the nine municipalities and with Bruce County on rural economic development in the area.
A longtime trustee and chair of the former Grey County Board of Education who was elected to Owen Sound council in 2003 and to county council in 2006, Wright feels her extensive political experience and her networks of associates both locally and provincially will be of great benefit to Grey.
The two were the only councillors to previously announce their candidacy to succeed West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles, who served for two years.
Local MPP Bill Murdoch was also to have been at last night’s meeting to bring congratulations from the province.
However he’s still hold up in the legislature protesting the liberal’s refusal to hold public hearings on the HST.
The first full session of county council in 2010 will take place on January 5th.