Schaefer Wins EZT Mayoral Race

Thursday, 27 October 2022 05:24

By Marcie Culbert

Photo Credit: Township of East Zorra-Tavistock website

Phil Schafer is currently one of the Ward 1 Councillors for East Zorra-Tavistock and he will be sworn in as the new Mayor on November 15th.

EZT - A new mayor will lead the Township of East Zorra-Tavistock over the next four years.

Phil Schaefer is currently a Ward 1 Councillor and he will be sworn in as the new Mayor on November 15th.

He's going to take over for the current Mayor Don McKay, who decided not to seek re-election after being the Mayor for almost two decades. Schaefer says they're big shoes to fill, but he is up for the challenge.

"I think he has done an excellent job of steering the township through all of these years. At the forefront of this township is fiscal responsibility and that is something that I want to maintain and keep going on. I think he has been a real ambassador for East Zorra-Tavistock and has just demonstrated what selfless service is really like."

Schaefer says he is looking forward to working with the new council. It includes Brad Smith as Deputy Mayor, Steven Van Wyk and Scott Zehr as the Ward 1 Councillors, incumbent Scott Rudy as the Ward 2 Councillor and the incumbents Matthew Gillespie and Jeremy Smith as the Ward 3 Councillors.

Schaefer says the new council is going to be quite busy when they get to work.

"We want to look at expanding our recreation services in the township and we have a secondary plan for the township that's being prepared now by the county, so that is going to be a focus for the council as well."

Schaefer is also looking forward to seeing the construction of the new municipal building and representing the Township of Oxford County Council.

Schaefer would like to thank his family and his wife Barb for supporting him throughout his mayoral campaign. He would like to thank everyone who voted for him.

"I just want to thank the residents of East Zorra-Tavistock for having the confidence to elect me as Mayor. I promise that I won't let them down."