O’Shaughnessy elected chairman of mayors’ caucus

In this Monday Jan. 9, 2017 photo provided by the City of Cornwall, Mayor Leslie O'Shaughnessy (seated, center) has been elected chairman of the Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus for 2017. Also pictured are Mayor Bryan Paterson of Kingston (seated, left), Prescott Mayor Brett Todd (seated, right) and, sanding from left, Brockville Mayor David Henderson, Gananoque Mayor Erika Demchuk and Bellevile Mayor Taso Christopher. (City of Cornwall via Newswatch Group)

CORNWALL – Cornwall Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy will be heading up a mayoral advocacy group for towns and cities across Eastern Ontario.

O’Shaughnessy was elected chairman of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus during the group’s first 2017 meeting in Kingston, Ont.

He takes over for Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson.

The EOMC represents 11 separated municipalities from Cornwall to Peterborough.

“Each municipality in the EOMC has its own unique challenges and opportunities however there are numerous issues where we can benefit by working together with a unified voice,” Mayor O’Shaughnessy said.

Prescott Mayor Brett Todd was elected vice-chairman, taking over for Gananoque Mayor Erika Demchuk.

The EOMC has tackled a number of issues in the past including work at reforming Ontario’s interest arbitration system for emergency services and sustaining stable infrastructure funding from senior governments.