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Former provincial Justice of the Peace John Creelman announces his intent to run for Mono deputy mayor

July 13, 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Jasen Obermeyer

John Creelman, recently retired Justice of the Peace for 15 years and a former Mono mayor, is looking to once again get into municipal politics by running for Mono’s Deputy Mayor.

With his focus now shifted completely to the upcoming municipal election in October, Mr. Creelman announced his candidacy last week to return to Mono politics.

“I still think I have something to offer,” he said on his decision to run again.

A one-time Citizen columnist, Mr. Creelman was first elected as a Mono councillor in 1991, then as a Deputy Reeve and Mayor, as well as two consecutive terms as Warden for Dufferin County.

Speaking to the Citizen on Monday, he spoke on several areas on his campaign for the municipality, including more environmental protection, citizen engagement, better by-law enforcement, responsible budgeting, cost effective local service delivery and high speed Internet. As Deputy Mayor, he would also have a seat at County Council level.

“I feel very strongly about the relationship between the county and the local-tier municipalities,” Mr. Creelman explained. “I believe I have the experience and ideas to effectively represent the people of Mono on both Mono and County Council.”

He added that he brings experience from his serving at various levels of government, but is also a good communicator and listener.

“I want to see Mono and Dufferin County reinvigorated by the advancement of ideas, not just as circumstances arise, but by you and those who represent you on councils,” Mr. Creelman noted. “I was never shy about raising issues on behalf of our residents, writing and moving motions when needed and asking for recorded votes when necessary.”

Discussing issues at the county level, Mr. Creelman strongly criticized the county’s handling of the Provincial Offences Act (POA) administration in Orangeville for Caledon. The county recently offered Caledon a new location for the court offices at 10 Louisa Street.

“The County now wants to move POA administration into a totally unacceptable space less than half the size it currently occupies,” Mr. Creelman said. “This space was previously used by POA a decade ago and it was inadequate even then.”

He is calling on the county to cease further use of Courtroom 103 for trials other than for POA pending input from local municipalities responsible for POA oversight and a global solution to POA delivery issues in Dufferin, and for County Council to “assert their responsibility for POA oversight and start directing Mayors and Deputy Mayors to defend POA service delivery when voting at County Council instead of simply voting the landlord’s financial interest.”

During Mr. Creelman’s previous time on Mono and County councils, he oversaw Mono’s transition to Town status and successfully fought off efforts to absorb Dufferin’s lower-tier municipalities into a regional style municipal government. “It was all about protecting our identity, planning autonomy and lower tax rate relative to our neighbours,” he noted.

Asked on his thoughts for the upcoming election, Mr. Creelman said he hopes it will be one of issues and accomplishments, and urges voters to cast their ballots, especially now with Mono’a use of internet and telephone voting.  “It’s always depressing to see how few people actually vote in the municipal election.”

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