The Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) has elected Mayor Karen Farbridge as its Vice-Chair. Mayor Farbridge will serve with LUMCO’s newly elected Chair, Barrie’s Mayor Jeff Lehman. She will become Chair in two years.
“I’m honoured to be elected as Vice-Chair of LUMCO, and I look forward to working together with mayors of other large Ontario cities to keep urban issues and opportunities front and centre,” said Mayor Farbridge.
LUMCO is made up of 26 mayors representing cities with populations of over 100,000. Their members collectively represent 67 per cent of Ontario’s population. Mayor Lehman succeeds Mississauga’s Mayor Hazel McCallion, who is retiring.
LUMCO works to advance the standards of municipal government through public policy development, advocacy and discussion. LUMCO ultimately represents the large urban municipal viewpoint within the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and to other authorities and levels of government. LUMCO’s key priorities for 2014 include gridlock and transit; the rising cost of emergency services; and job creation.
LUMCO members elect a Chair and Vice-Chair each for a two year term.
Mayor Farbridge was first elected to Guelph City Council in 1994, and has served as Mayor from 2000-2003 and 2006 to the present. In addition to serving on all standing committees of Council, she is the Chair of Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. and Chair of the Guelph Wellbeing Leadership Group, and serves on the Guelph Police Services Board and the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health Board.