Rob Burton (born c. 1946)[1] is a Canadian businessman, journalist and politician. He currently serves as the mayor of Oakville, Ontario, in Canada. He was elected in the municipal elections of 2006,[2] having failed to unseat Ann Mulvale in 2003.[3] He was re-elected to office in the 2010,[4] 2014[5] and 2018 municipal elections.[6]
Rob Burton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 45th Mayor of Oakville | |
| Assumed office 13 November 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Ann Mulvale |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Wendy Burton |
| Residence(s) | Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | University of New Mexico Columbia University |
| Website | https://www.robburton.ca/ |
In a 2014 endorsement of his re-election campaign, the Toronto Star editorial board called Burton "among the best mayors in the Greater Toronto Area."[7]
Early career and education edit
Burton graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in history and economics before receiving a Master's of Science in Journalism from Columbia University.
After receiving his master's degree in 1971, he became a journalist for the Watertown Daily Times in New York State. He was recruited shortly after by CBC to help establish their new consumer rights programme Marketplace. He worked as a journalist and television producer until 1988, when he led the creation of the youth-focused television station YTV.[8] After founding the station, he went on to work as the general manager and vice-president of programming and production.[9]
Political career edit
Burton first ran for mayor in 2003. A dark-horse candidate up against five-term incumbent Ann Mulvale, Burton ultimately lost his first bid for Mayor by a grand total of 28 votes.[10] Burton ran again in 2006, managing to unseat Mulvale by a nearly 2000-vote margin.[11] Mulvale challenged Burton for the mayorship once again in 2010, but was soundly defeated by over 4000 votes.[12]
In his time as Mayor, Burton has been an outspoken advocate for growth control, environmental protection and greenspace. He is a vocal supporter of Ontario's Greenbelt, founding the "Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt" alongside Ajax Mayor Steve Parrish and Toronto Councillor Glenn de Baeremaker, which he still chairs today. He is a vocal critic of Ontario's development industry, describing large developers as a 'cartel' in 2017, after suggestions that developers wanted to ease planning restrictions and greenspace protections to improve housing affordability.[13]
In 2015, Burton apologized for a series of tweets comparing Stephen Harper's use of veterans in the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires to Mussolini's Blackshirts and Hitler's Brownshirts.[14]
Burton is the founder and chair of the Ontario Auto Mayors, a group of municipal leaders in communities with a large automotive manufacturing presence, advocating for more coordinated support of Ontario's automotive sector among all three levels of government.[15] He has also served as the Chair of the Halton Police Services Board since 2014.[16]
Rob Burton won reelection in October 2022 by a narrow margin.[17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Oakville mayor's election challenged". Hamilton Spectator. December 6, 2003. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Burton bounces Mulvale in upset". The Hamilton Spectator. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ Reinhart, Anthony (15 November 2003). "Oakville's 12-vote election hangover". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Oakville: Burton romps to victory". Toronto Star. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Rob Burton re-elected in Oakville". Toronto Sun. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "2018 Results Summary with Percentages". Town of Oakville. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Most Halton Region mayors deserve re-election". Toronto Star. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "ARCHIVED - Licence application - YTV Canada Inc". December 1987.
- ^ "Rob's life of service & success".
- ^ Rusk, James (12 March 2004). "Mulvale keeps job in Oakville recount". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Mulvale lets go after 18 years as mayor of Oakville".
- ^ "Burton trumps ex-mayor Mulvale". The Hamilton Spectator. 25 October 2010.
- ^ "Oakville Mayor says developing greenbelt won't cool housing market | CBC News".
- ^ Aghbali, Arman (29 August 2015). "Mayor criticized for comparing Harper's use of private security to dictators' militias". CBC News. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ^ "Home". automayors.ca.
- ^ "Oakville Mayor Rob Burton to chair Halton police board — again".
- ^ "Rob Burton wins fifth term as Oakville mayor in tight race | inHalton". insauga | Local Online News. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
External links edit
