Newmarket Regional Councillor Taylor takes aim at chairperson post

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 1, 2014
Lisa Queen

Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor says he will run for regional chairperson Dec. 11.

"Yes, I am," he told The Era Monday afternoon.

"I've decided. I'm very interested in it."

At the same time, Taylor left himself room to bow out of the race, depending on who else throws their name into the ring.

"My intention is to pursue it. But you never know — two, three, four people could run from the floor," he said.

"I hope strongly I will be on the ballot. But anybody in this process can't say for sure until that day. It's extremely likely I will be on the ballot."

The 20 members of regional council will choose a new leader, the most powerful political position in York Region, to replace outgoing chairperson Bill Fisch.

Former Whitchurch-Stouffville mayor Wayne Emmerson and Markham Regional Councillor Jim Jones have already said they will seek the job.

Taylor said he has been seriously considering running for the chairperson's job during the last couple of weeks and said hundreds of others have encouraged him to run.

"It's something I have thought a little about in the past and people have expressed it would be a good fit," he said.

Taylor has been canvassing support among regional councillors and believes he has a good shot at the job.

"I think I'm very close to having the support you need to get elected," he said, acknowledging there remains a number of councillors who are still undecided.

Before last month's municipal election, Taylor said he had mulled over the idea of running for the chairperson's position, but said his top priority was making sure he got re-elected so he could,once again, represent the people of Newmarket, a role about which he said he feels "passionate".

While he acknowledged some people could be upset he ran for re-election as a regional councillor before trying to win the regional chairperson's post — opening the possibility for a byelection or even two  if a town councillor ran to replace him — Taylor said he is working within the imperfect system of crowning a regional chairperson.

"We've been given a system by the province which is less than perfect, but it is the process we've been given," he said, adding it's impossible to know for sure who is seeking the job until the night of the inaugural meeting.

"I think we would end up with worse representation if we set that standard, to expect people to give up public office to be able to run. I'm passionate about representing communities. I don't want to stop if I don't have to stop."

Discounting candidates because choosing them would trigger a byelection would be "penny wise and pound foolish," he said.

It would be akin to a company hiring a new CEO but refusing to spend the money to advertise for one, he said.

Taylor wouldn't comment on if he favours a a byelection or an appointment if he becomes regional chairperson.

If he  wins, Taylor said he has many issues he would focus on including the York University campus in Markham, the new hospital in Vaughan and job growth and creation across the region.

One of the chairperson's key roles will be advocating York Region's position at Queen's Park, Taylor said, adding he has a strong connection with the Liberal government.

He said Fisch had the ability to grow into the role over time, something he would also like to do.

"I have the ability to be there for one or two or three terms, if possible," he said.

Last year, Fisch earned $217,781 plus $2,271 in taxable benefits.