By Cecilia Nasmith
The newly elected Cobourg council was sworn in Tuesday, with the town to be led through the next four years by a team consisting of Mayor Lucas Cleveland, Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty and Councillors Adam Bureau, Aaron Burchat, Brian Darling, Miriam Mutton and Randy Barber.
Reflecting recent events, each swore an oath that included bearing true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles. The meeting closed with the singing of God Save The King.
The agenda included greetings from Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini, though Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence (who was on the agenda to give greetings as well) could not be present.
Cleveland offered greetings to VIPs present prior to his address, including two of his predecessors, John Henderson and Peter Delanty. He also included Rick Stinson among those he singled out (though he identified retired municipal clerk Stinson as a former councillor).
“Folks, you never know where your life journey is going to take you,” Cleveland began.
He told the story of leaving Alberta with his partner Montana to travel the country in a quest for the right place to lay down roots and raise a family. Over four months, they travelled from Victoria to Halifax and, on the return journey, stopped to visit his parents – who had just moved from Scarborough to Cobourg.
“Cobourg offered so much of what we were looking for,” he said.
“It created space for a happy life as a family.”
They made the move, set up their own Market & Smor grocery on King Street East and put down those roots.
Four months before the Oct. 24 election, he decided to run for mayor, “because I thought the residents of Cobourg deserved a choice.
“I am so very humbled and incredibly grateful to be sworn in as the 48th mayor of Cobourg, Ontario.”
His only campaign promises consisted of using his skills as a problem solver, a hard worker, a quick learner and a high-energy individual to bring about positive change. Over those few weeks, he recalled, “I became increasingly comfortable with saying, 'I don't know, but I will work harder than anyone else to find out.'”
Addressing Henderson, he saluted him for his service to the town over terms as councillor, deputy mayor and mayor.
“I can only hope to serve this community as well as you have done. Thank you, Sir, for being so kind, helpful and supportive during this transition, which speaks to your honour and integrity.”
He also thanked retiring Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin and Councillor Emily Chorley for their service in the past term of council.
“Cobourg is a heritage town, more than 200 years of tradition. I pledge to respect that tradition, but I think it is possible to do so while moving us forward,” Cleveland said.
“I am really looking forward to working with you this term. We have an unbelievably experienced and incredibly capable council. We look forward to working collaboratively in a spirit of trust and transparency.”
The new mayor debuted “three fundamental pillars I hope will move us forward,” he declared.
The second was transparency and accountability. Cleveland pledged that council would “ensure the residents of Cobourg have insight and access to how projects progress in town hall, how budgets are spent and why projects are needed.”
Finally, “I am a strong proponent of progress over perfection.
“Ladies and gentlemen, very few people get everything right the first try, and I can assure you all I won't. We will be making mistakes, because we will be working to make important changes and to prepare for the future.”
Cleveland gave his promise that council would always give its best efforts to do better and improve the community.
“When we make a mistake, we will learn from it, and that will allow us to move forward,” he said.
“As mayor, I will always encourage different points of view. I look forward to insightful and sometimes difficult debate. But in the end, I know we need to take calculated risks based on sometimes limited information. But I believe it's what it will take to move projects and initiatives forward to prepare us for the future.
“I look forward to four years as we work together to unlock Cobourg's potential together.”
