Cam Guthrie Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Worship
Cam Guthrie
Birth Date:October 18, 1975
Birth Place:Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Office:60th Mayor of Guelph
Term Start:December 1, 2014
Predecessor:Karen Farbridge
Website:http://guelph.ca/city-hall/mayor-and-council/mayors-office/
Children:2

Cam Guthrie is a Canadian politician, currently serving as the Mayor of Guelph, Ontario since December 1, 2014. In the October 24, 2022 municipal election, he was re-elected mayor for a third term.[1]

Personal life

Guthrie is a third-generation Guelphite born into a family with Scottish immigrant roots. His family includes a number of independent businessmen. Before entering politics, Guthrie was an insurance agent. His father was a chiropractor, and his grandfather owned and operated Guthrie's Bakery in downtown Guelph, started by his great-grandfather in 1919.[2] He also served on the boards of some local not-for-profit organizations. Guthrie had previously graduated with a business diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College.[3]

He has been a drummer for the local bands, including the synth-pop musical group Fitness Club Fiasco,[4] and has been involved in the production of several music albums.[2] Fitness Club Fiasco were finalists in CBC Music's Searchlight competition in 2014. He is the cousin of musician Jim Guthrie.[4]

Guthrie regularly attends services at Lakeside Church.[5] [6]

He and his wife Rachel have a son and a daughter.[2]

Career in politics

Prior to his election to the mayoralty, Guthrie represented Ward 4 on Guelph City Council.[7] Guthrie first ran for city councillor in 2006 but lost to Mike Salisbury by 194 votes. He ran again for councillor in 2010 and defeated Salisbury by 1,182 votes.

In the 2014 municipal election, Guthrie was elected mayor of Guelph,[8] defeating incumbent mayor Karen Farbridge by 5,498 votes and claiming just over 50% of the popular vote.[9] In his inaugural address, Guthrie stated that his priorities would continue to be limiting tax increases to the rate of inflation,[10] reviewing the transit system, improving customer service at City Hall, and addressing an infrastructure deficit.

He was re-elected mayor in 2018[11] with 65.82% of the ballots, on a "A Stronger, Safer Community" platform which included a plan for greater investments in police services and infrastructure.[12] [13]

Guthrie was re-elected for mayor for third term in 2022.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Austin . Jenn . 2022-10-26 . Guelph's official 2022 municipal election results are in . 2022-11-15 . City of Guelph . en-CA.
  2. Web site: 2018-09-19 . MEET THE CANDIDATES: Mayor, Cam Guthrie . 2024-03-27 . GuelphToday.com . en.
  3. https://mayorguthrie.com/about/, ABOUT CAM
  4. http://music.cbc.ca/#!/Radio3/blogs/2015/2/Plan-B-10-Canadian-musicians-and-their-entrepreneurial-businesses-and-side-gigs "Plan B: 10 Canadian musicians and their entrepreneurial businesses and side gigs"
  5. Web site: Mayor's Office . City of Guelph. 2015-05-25.
  6. Web site: Mercury . Chris Seto Guelph . 2017-08-29 . Police investigating possible hate crime after Guelph church vandalized . 2024-03-27 . Guelph Mercury . en.
  7. http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/improving-city-efficiency-tops-list-of-new-guelph-mayor-s-goals-1.2170327 "Improving city efficiency tops list of new Guelph mayor's goals"
  8. http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/farbridge-out-guthrie-in-as-mayor-of-guelph-1.2074168 "Farbridge out, Guthrie in as mayor of Guelph"
  9. http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5232873-2014-newsmakers-of-the-year-cam-guthrie-and-karen-farbridge/ "2014 newsmakers of the year: Cam Guthrie and Karen Farbridge"
  10. http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5211483-guthrie-setting-wheels-in-motion-for-rate-of-inflation-tax-increase/ "Guthrie setting wheels in motion for rate-of-inflation tax increase"
  11. Web site: 2018-10-23 . ELECTION '18: Guthrie wins in a landslide (7 photos) . 2024-03-27 . GuelphToday.com . en.
  12. Web site: Cam Guthrie re-elected for 2nd term as Guelph mayor - Guelph Globalnews.ca . 2024-03-27 . Global News . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2018 election results and financial statements . 2024-03-27 . City of Guelph . en-CA.