“I’m not going to be Dave Harrison. I’m going to be me.”

Ken Morton is running for the North Marysburgh council seat held by David Harrison, but he says he isn’t looking to step into his predecessor’s shoes.

“Not that his record is poor. I don’t know that if Dave Harrison had run, I would have. But once it was open, I knew I had an opportunity to bring something new to the table.”

Mr. Harrison won the seat in 2022, narrowly besting Ben Thornton for the seat. After over 20 years of service in municipal government, he is now leaving council.

Also seeking the seat are Tracey Stevens and Mr. Harrison’s wife, Siobhán Harrison.

Having sold his business, Deerhaven Farm & Garden, Mr. Morton, who lives in Waupoos, feels he has the time to devote to advocating for his community.

“I think Prince Edward County is at that spot where we need to take risks, but we have to be calculated,” he says.

That means “being willing to make significant investments,” while considering what the municipality and its residents can afford over the long term.

After tuning into the most recent mayoral debates, Mr. Morton says he doesn’t believe a future council will support the proposed wastewater and water infrastructure project at its current scale.

Instead, he suggests the County examine whether smaller investments could address Wellington’s immediate needs while allowing time to determine how best to provide safe water in Picton. Pointing to an estimated $3.3 million investment to upgrade Wellington’s water system for the near term, followed by another roughly $10.4 million investment as development progresses, he said the existing [Picton] system could have more than 10 years of capacity with smaller upgrades, while the County could investigate alternatives for securing water.

Mr. Morton believes the MAT should remain at four per cent, which he considers “more than fair.” He supports directing the County’s share of the MAT proceeds toward roads, saying council needs to concentrate on its core responsibilities.

Mr. Morton owns 58 acres in Waupoos, about half of which is farmable and is worked by a farmer. Making “practical use” of what the County has is a priority. He wants to see agricultural land retained and, where possible, farmed.

“I’ll listen. I’m a strong voice. I’m a good salesman. I’ll sell what North Marysburgh needs.”

Mr. Morton spent the first 20 years of his business in a 50/50 partnership, where he often had to persuade his partner to get behind a decision. He sees a similar dynamic around a council table.

Collaboration is key to his campaign. “I won’t fight. We need productive conversation.”

When it comes to council itself, Mr. Morton favours a smaller table, eight councillors plus a mayor.

But he knows that, if elected, he would be only one voice among many.

“I’m only one in 14,” he said. “I don’t have an agenda. I just think we need to be smart going forward and make good decisions.”

Mr. Morton said he hopes to keep learning, if elected, and has already found himself learning more about the issues since deciding to run. “There may be somebody who’ll change my mind in the next four years.”