Woodstock Candidate Profile - Deb Tait

Wednesday, 5 August 2026 05:45

Deb Tait has decided to run for Deputy Mayor, after previously serving as a City Councillor and a City County Councillor.

WOODSTOCK - A long standing member of Woodstock City Council has decided to run for Deputy Mayor.

Deb Tait was first elected back in 2003 and she served as a city councillor for her first two terms before becoming a city county councillor.

Tait says her experience would be a huge asset as the Deputy Mayor.

"I think it's really important that we have someone in that position that puts Woodstock first. That hasn't always happened with our reps for Woodstock. It's a lot of work at the county, so I think it's important that you have that background, experience and you put Woodstock first."

The Deputy Mayor will serve on both Woodstock City Council and Oxford County Council, alongside the mayor of Woodstock and one city county councillor. With the current state of the economy, Tait says both councils need to be careful with how they spend the tax dollars.

"Especially around election time, I hear about all of the things we need. But to get any of those things that everybody wants you have to tax people for it, so it would have to be on their property taxes. So you have to be really conscientious of that and I think that needs to be out there more to the public."

Tait says that money is used to maintain roads and facilities, adding the Reeves Community Complex needs a new roof. She also believes the city would benefit from a new outdoor pool.

A big spending item at the county level is the upcoming Homelessness Support Centre, which will be located in the former YMCA building on Dundas Street. Tait says costs associated with renovating the building are higher than expected, so she's hoping the newly elected county council will pause the project to assess the full value before moving forward. She says the county already has 50 shelter beds, so she believes that money should be put towards transitional housing or low income housing instead.

Continuing with county matters, Tait says Woodstock and Tillsonburg do not have proper representation in Oxford County Council. She says both communities should each have one more member on council, based on their population.

Tait says the county also tried to take over Woodstock's water twice over the past couple of terms of council, and she would like to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Outside of politics, Tait works in the commercial insurance industry full time, and she's happy to have her two grown sons living nearby in the Friendly City. She enjoys taking her three dogs out for a walk each day and getting out into the community she loves.

The municipal election is scheduled for October 26th.