Norfolk County race for mayor is crowded after 1st term for controversial mayor

Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp faces plenty of competition after a first term in office that had its share of controversy.

In this fall's municipal election, Chopp faces two current councillors as well as a life-long Norfolk resident and business owner. Regulations prevented a former police chief from adding his name as a candidate as well.

During Chopp's current term, she was fined about $3,000 by the local integrity commissioner, a fine that council voted to cover.

However, Chopp previously said she has "a great relationship" with staff, and anyone doing their job well doesn't have to worry. 

"I'm direct and to the point, and I don't sugarcoat things," she said. "I'm not going to tell you something to your face and turn around and do something else. My word is my word."

Chopp was also criticised by Halidmand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett in 2020 for her use of a 'shit sandwich' graphic in a presentation about the county to a provincial minister. 

The county told the CBC in a statement that the mayor used the graphic to "make a point about Norfolk's poor financial situation," and the difficult budget decisions council had to make as it faces significant struggles.

Norfolk County only provided the image used by Chopp in her presentations to CBC News following months of back and forth with information and privacy coordinator Kevin Klingenberg.

Amy Martin

Other candidates include the first woman and youngest person ever elected for Ward 6, Amy Martin.

Martin said she is running for mayor because, "Norfolk deserves better." 

"I'm ready to put my experience and skill-set to work with the goal of stabilizing our corporation and moving forward as a community," she said. "It's time to highlight the very best that Norfolk has to offer and reconnect with the hardworking people who have cultivated this great community."

Ian Rabbits

Norfolk Ward 5 councillor Ian Rabbits and Realtor Bill Culver are also in the running alongside life-long Norfolk resident David Bate, who runs his own home improvement business. 

After four years as a councillor, with a vested interest in the community Rabbits said he wants to promote the best interests of Norfolk County if he becomes mayor.

"I aspire to provide our community with competent and professional leadership," he said. "I want to elevate our community through public service."

Bill Culver

Culver said he wants to join the race because of his love for his home and community.

"I am doing this because I adore this county, have respect for its citizens and want it to flourish," he said.

"I think I can bring a fresh perspective to the table. I think the county, it's employees and council need to be in sync with the taxpayers."

Kristal Chopp

Chopp says "I'm running again to finish what I started four years ago and frankly, I don't want to go back to the old way of doing business in Norfolk County. Norfolk was headed for the rocks and politically unpopular decisions had to be made in order to correct its course.

"We slashed services, cut staff, closed facilities and revealed more old skeletons in the closet than I care to count. Not good for someone's political career in a deeply rural community but I will never apologize for fighting and fighting hard for Norfolk County," she said. 

Current Aylmer police chief and former Norfolk OPP detachment officer, Zvonko Horvat, had registered as a candidate but says he had to withdraw.

Horvat told the CBC in an email that while Ontario Reg 268-10 section 16 allows officers to apply for candidacy in municipal elections, this does not apply to police chiefs or deputy chiefs, making him ineligible to run.

Other candidates did not respond in time for publication.