OUR CONGRATULATIONS go out this week to Ken McGhee on his being chosen as Mono's new deputy mayor, succeeding Dave Baldwin.

Mono council was faced with an unusual challenge last fall when Mr. Baldwin announced his plan to retire at year's end and it was found that it would be inappropriate, if not unlawful, for Council to name a successor before there was actually a vacancy.

Our suspicion all along was that Mr. McGhee was the best candidate for the job, and not simply because he's now in his eighth year on council.

As it turned out, there was a need for fast action, since Council didn't meet until Tuesday night and if no appointment was made then Mayor Lorie Haddock would go to tonight's meeting of Dufferin County Council with only her own two votes for the county's second largest town. Now, with Mr. McGhee on hand, the town will have twice the number of votes should they be needed.

While he's heading to county with just one day's experience in his new role, Mr. McGhee told our reporter he's confident he will able to blend in. "Lorie, Dave and (Mono CAO) Keith McNenly have kept me up to date on the issues going on at county council."

Ontario Municipal Act rules gave the council two options for filling the position of deputy mayor. They could interview applicants and fill the position themselves or call an election. But since it appeared an election would cost taxpayers about $20,000, the better route became obvious.

Another potential candidate, Councillor Laura Ryan, initially expressed interest in the deputy mayor's job but decided Mr. McGhee's experience made him the ideal candidate and became his nominator, the other councillors being unanimous in agreement,

Council now has a tougher challenge, in deciding who should fill the vacancy caused by Mr. McGhee's "ascension."

Council will officially declare the seat vacant at its meeting next Tuesday and will then have 60 days to appoint a replacement councillor.

One option might be to pick an unsuccessful candidate in the 2006 municipal election, which saw Ms. Haddock oust incumbent mayor Keith Thompson. Mr. Thompson is no longer a Mono resident and the Mayor says several viable candidates have expressed interest in the position.