BLACK RIVER-MATHESON - Murray Horan is sharpening his campaign skills to carve out a path to the mayor’s seat in an upcoming byelection.
Horan is one of seven candidates vying to be Black River-Matheson’s next mayor in the Aug. 12 byelection.
Horan’s lived in the Matheson area for 16 years and owned a slaughterhouse business for 45 years. He is now semi-retired.
“I decided that I should put my name in for the race because the last time there was nobody who got involved,” he said.
“I've been leading people for 50 years and there's a way to do it, and there's a way not to do it.”
Horan said he’s always been a big “community guy.”
“I shop local, I stay local, I've always had locally employed young people. Everywhere I've lived I've always had a business in the community or rentals or something,” he said.
“So, I'm not just a person living in the community, I put my money back into the community and help people in the community. I’ve always been a part of the system and not just a number in the system.”
Before he comes up with any priorities for the township, Horan said he wants to wait and hear what residents have to say and what their priorities are will be his priorities.
“I think it's best just to say that as we go, we will learn what's most important and work with the people on which direction to go. We all know there's a financial problem here, so we can just start spending money like drunken sailors,” he said.
Advance voting for the byelection is Aug. 1-11, with election day on Aug. 12.
SEE: Are you on the Matheson voters' list?
RELATED: Here's the official list of who's running for Matheson's byelection
Seven council members will be elected — one councillor in each of the six wards, and the mayor, who is elected at large.
The byelection is required because the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing declared all of the Matheson council seats vacant after council failed to meet quorum at meetings for 60 days. The little-used section of the Municipal Act hasn't been exercised since it took effect in the early 2000s.
Connect with Horan by calling 705-961-0475 or emailing [email protected].
The other Black River-Matheson mayoral candidates are Dave Dyment, Paul Fortin, John MacKenzie, Linda Mercier, Chris Riach and Albert Royer.
