Michel Lavigne
Publisher
Barry’s Bay – For those who do not know, Linda Neuman ran in the 2010 elections and won a seat on council with the most votes for a council seat. Linda served the Township of Madawaska Valley for the 2011 – 2014 term. During her time on council, Linda was involved with many different committees. She served as chair for the finance and human resources committees. She was a member of the Madawaska Valley Library Board, the greening committee and Combermere Craft Cabin committee. She also was involved with the Combermere Recreation committee and an Economic Development committee. Linda was very respectful and has always believed that accountability and transparency are two key components when serving on council. We wish Linda all the best and thank her for stepping up to the table.
With just eight months left in the current council term, Linda is not necessarily looking to advance any personal priorities. Rather she wants to work with council to pass the upcoming 2026 township budget, help council make informed decisions and implement policy.
“First thing on the agenda will be the budget,” she told the Gazette after she took the oath of office at a special council meeting Feb. 9, “so that will be something that’ll get me right into the business of the municipality.”
The late-Mayor Mark Willmer and Coun. Mary Blank approached Neuman about filling the vacant seat when former-Coun. Joseph Olsheski resigned last spring. She lost out on a draw of names from a hat.
When another seat opened following Mark’s death and David Shulist assuming the mayor’s seat, she thought, “No, I’ve had it. This is enough.”
Dave visited Linda when a seat opened up recently and she gave the request more thought and decided, “it’s 8, 9 months,” and she felt she could do that.
“I’m the type of person that, when I commit myself to something, I commit myself to something,” she said. “And I will do the best job that I can and be able to support what I want to support.”
With files from Robert Fisher
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