Paul Ayotte
Encyclopedia
D. Paul Ayotte is a municipal politician in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. Formerly a city councillor, he was the mayor
of Peterborough
from 2006 to 2010.
before retiring in 2002. He is a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians
and is known for being very knowledgeable on parliamentary procedure.
Ayotte was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
in the 1981. In a 2003 interview, he said that the disease had been in remission for years.
in 1978
, saying he did not want the only two other candidates in Ashburnham Ward to win without opposition. He finished at the head of the polls and was returned in every subsequent election until 1985
. After a two year break, he returned to council in 1987 and served until his first mayoral run in 2003. He was chair of the city's finance committee for sixteen years, chair of the planning committee for nine years, and deputy mayor for fifteen years. An editorial in the Peterborough Examiner
describes him as having focused his attention on city-wide issues, rather than acting as a "parochial ward councillor."
In 2003, he voted against a motion that advised the government of Canada
to remain out of the American invasion of Iraq
. He was quoted as saying, "I don't think I'm elected to advise the federal government on foreign policy."
. He supported a controversial parkway extension from Clonsilla Avenue to Cumberland Avenue, an area that covered municipal green space. He also called for increased public transportation and greater private sector involvement in affordable housing. Fifty-nine years old at the time, he finished third against incumbent mayor Sylvia Sutherland
. After the election, he wrote a series of columns on municipal politics for Peterborough This Week
. When flood waters damaged more than three thousand homes in mid-2004, he was appointed to chair the Peterborough Area Flood Relief Committee.
Ayotte was elected mayor on his second attempt in 2006
, after Sutherland announced her retirement. As mayor, he has established an Action Committee on Poverty that identified six priority areas for investment, including a day warming room, shelter services for adult women, and reduced transportation fare for people receiving Ontario Works benefits. He also recommended several procedural changes for council meetings in 2008.
Peterborough This Week
rated him as the best member of city council in its 2007 annual report card, notwithstanding what it described as his "low-key, cut-and-dry manner." His 2008 rating was somewhat lower, as the journal noted that some of his key proposals on poverty and procedural reform had not yet been fulfilled. In 2009, Ayotte appeared with federal and provincial representatives to announce more than three million dollars for affordable housing.
Ayotte sought re-election in the 2010 municipal election
and lost to local businessman Daryl Bennett
. He indicated after the election that some of his financial backers from 2006 had shifted to Bennett's campaign.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Formerly a city councillor, he was the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
from 2006 to 2010.
Early life and private career
Ayotte was born and raised in Peterborough, where members of his family have lived since 1835. He has a certificate in public administration and was a technical writer for General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
before retiring in 2002. He is a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians
American Institute of Parliamentarians
The American Institute of Parliamentarians is a not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1958 for the advancement of parliamentary procedure. From a first-year membership of only 48 members, AlP has grown into a progressive association with active chapters and regions...
and is known for being very knowledgeable on parliamentary procedure.
Ayotte was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
in the 1981. In a 2003 interview, he said that the disease had been in remission for years.
Councillor
Ayotte first ran for the Peterborough city councilPeterborough, Ontario City Council
The Peterborough City Council is a city council that governs Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. It consists of the mayor and ten councillors, who are elected in five two-member wards across the city. Each member serves on various city committees. The council meets on Monday evenings on a three-week...
in 1978
Ontario municipal elections, 1978
All municipalities in the Canadian province of Ontario held elections on November 13, 1978, to elect mayors or reeves, councillors, school trustees, and public utilities commissioners. Some municipalities also held referendums on various issues....
, saying he did not want the only two other candidates in Ashburnham Ward to win without opposition. He finished at the head of the polls and was returned in every subsequent election until 1985
Ontario municipal elections, 1985
The 1985 Ontario municipal elections were held on November 12, 1985 to elect mayors, municipal councils, school boards, and hydro commissions in cities, towns and other incorporated communities throughout the Canadian province of Ontario....
. After a two year break, he returned to council in 1987 and served until his first mayoral run in 2003. He was chair of the city's finance committee for sixteen years, chair of the planning committee for nine years, and deputy mayor for fifteen years. An editorial in the Peterborough Examiner
Peterborough Examiner
The Peterborough Examiner is a newspaper that services Peterborough, Ontario and area. The paper started circulation in 1847, and is currently owned by the Sun Media, division of Quebecor Media. At one time, it was edited by Canadian man of letters Robertson Davies. It is the only daily newspaper...
describes him as having focused his attention on city-wide issues, rather than acting as a "parochial ward councillor."
In 2003, he voted against a motion that advised the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to remain out of the American invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. He was quoted as saying, "I don't think I'm elected to advise the federal government on foreign policy."
Mayor
Ayotte first ran for mayor of Peterborough in the 2003 municipal electionPeterborough municipal election, 2003
The 2003 Peterborough municipal election took place on November 10, 2003, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in the city of Peterborough, Ontario.Sylvia Sutherland was narrowly re-elected in the mayoral contest.-Mayor:...
. He supported a controversial parkway extension from Clonsilla Avenue to Cumberland Avenue, an area that covered municipal green space. He also called for increased public transportation and greater private sector involvement in affordable housing. Fifty-nine years old at the time, he finished third against incumbent mayor Sylvia Sutherland
Sylvia Sutherland
Sylvia Sutherland is a former Canadian politician, who was mayor of Peterborough, Ontario from 1986–1991 and 1998-2006.Sutherland has a diploma in journalism from the Ryerson Institute of Technology, a BA in history from Trent University, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the...
. After the election, he wrote a series of columns on municipal politics for Peterborough This Week
Peterborough This Week
Peterborough This Week is a twice-weekly flyer delivery service in Peterborough, Ontario that was established in 1989. It is one of three newspapers in the Kawartha Division of Metroland Publishing, a company that owns newspapers across Ontario...
. When flood waters damaged more than three thousand homes in mid-2004, he was appointed to chair the Peterborough Area Flood Relief Committee.
Ayotte was elected mayor on his second attempt in 2006
Peterborough municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Peterborough municipal election was held in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2006. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2006 for elections in other cities.The election chose the mayor and...
, after Sutherland announced her retirement. As mayor, he has established an Action Committee on Poverty that identified six priority areas for investment, including a day warming room, shelter services for adult women, and reduced transportation fare for people receiving Ontario Works benefits. He also recommended several procedural changes for council meetings in 2008.
Peterborough This Week
Peterborough This Week
Peterborough This Week is a twice-weekly flyer delivery service in Peterborough, Ontario that was established in 1989. It is one of three newspapers in the Kawartha Division of Metroland Publishing, a company that owns newspapers across Ontario...
rated him as the best member of city council in its 2007 annual report card, notwithstanding what it described as his "low-key, cut-and-dry manner." His 2008 rating was somewhat lower, as the journal noted that some of his key proposals on poverty and procedural reform had not yet been fulfilled. In 2009, Ayotte appeared with federal and provincial representatives to announce more than three million dollars for affordable housing.
Ayotte sought re-election in the 2010 municipal election
Peterborough municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Peterborough municipal election was held on October 25, 2010, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. All other municipalities in Ontario also held elections on the same day. In the mayoral contest, challenger Daryl Bennett...
and lost to local businessman Daryl Bennett
Daryl Bennett
Daryl Bennett is a politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He is the current mayor of Peterborough, having won the position in the 2010 municipal election.-Early life and business career:...
. He indicated after the election that some of his financial backers from 2006 had shifted to Bennett's campaign.