Whitby mayoral priorities are coming into sharper focus as the town’s three candidates compare their plans for affordability, development and municipal accountability before the October 26 election.
Chris Leahy, Harshini Rajmohan and incumbent Elizabeth Roy supplied written responses to a DurhamRegion.com questionnaire published October 19. The newspaper presented their answers alphabetically and limited each response to 100 words. These are campaign positions, not measures already approved by council or independently costed in this report.
All three identify affordability, but their suggested next steps range from a property-tax freeze to reviews of municipal spending and service delivery. The responses also offer different approaches to managing growth and involving residents in decisions.
Leahy proposes a freeze and oversight changes
Leahy’s first priority is a two-year freeze on Whitby property taxes. He also says he would oppose what he describes as a 10 per cent Durham Region tax increase and reduce the mayor’s compensation. These are his campaign commitments; a town mayor does not set the regional budget alone.
His accountability proposals include a lobbyist registry and an auditor general. Leahy says he would restore support for libraries, Station Gallery and student summer jobs, while pursuing a new Whitby Foundation intended to raise $100 million for charities and arts organizations.
He also lists the proposed hospital, waterfront improvements, express GO service and consultation over development around Whitby GO among his priorities. The questionnaire does not provide detailed implementation schedules or financing plans for those commitments.
Rajmohan links growth with infrastructure
Rajmohan says the town should identify efficiencies before asking residents for more money, while maintaining essential services. Her response ties new development to the roads, health care, recreation facilities and community services needed to support it.
She also proposes protecting public access to Whitby’s waterfront while considering opportunities for economic activity. Her response calls for development that preserves residents’ access rather than sacrificing it.
Accountability and trust are another focus. Rajmohan says residents should have a meaningful role in decisions and be able to reach their mayor throughout the council term, not only during an election campaign.
Roy proposes a service review and strategic plan
Roy says she would begin the next community strategic plan by asking residents what matters most to them. She proposes an independent examination of municipal service delivery, alongside efforts to generate additional revenue and identify efficiencies.
Her response includes working with the province and Lakeridge Health on the Whitby hospital, strengthening community safety and continuing investment in the waterfront and downtowns. She also identifies keeping infrastructure aligned with growth, attracting jobs and investment, and encouraging tourism.
Roy says partnerships would remain central to addressing homelessness and food insecurity. Like the other responses, these statements describe intended priorities for a future term rather than new funding approvals.
The Town of Whitby confirms that municipal election day is October 26. Residents can use its election page to check voter information, polling locations and the official candidate-list service before casting a ballot. The full questionnaire, linked below, provides the candidates’ own wording and context.
