Port Hope resident Jeff Lees is running for mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope.
On Friday, July 29, 2022, Lees accompanied by his wife Laurie and supporters, filed his papers shortly before 4:30 p.m. at the town hall on Queen Street.
When the paperwork was done, the group broke out in applause making it official.
Lees who has been a councillor for 25-years, has worked with four different mayors, five different CAO’s and seven different councils.
“I’ve learned a lot of good things from them and I’ve learned a lot of not so good things from them,” Lees said just moments after filing the papers.
“Port Hope’s a beautiful community. We’re so blessed to have the urban and rural setting here.”
“I’m running to make the town and the rural community better. It’s a great place to live, but I want to make it better.”
With his 25-years on council, Lees said he’s hoping to transfer the good things he’s learned to the staff and the residents of the community.
Lees platform is “going back to the basics.”
“With the economy the way it is. Over 8% cost of living, people can’t afford high taxes. My first thing is to get a tax freeze or very little increase.”
Lees points out a number of big projects currently underway or that will be shortly including Walton Street reconstruction, building expansion at the Port Hope Rec Centre, Rose Glen Road and the radioactive clean-up, “that needs a little boost and I’m going to give that a boost as well to get this thing done.”
With spending a quarter of a century on council, Lees said he’s shown his commitment to the town.
“The residents are the best thing about this community – rural and urban. Port Hope is the best place in the world as far as I’m concerned.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
