Ward 3 Councillor Moya Johnson has taken her name off the ballot for the upcoming municipal election race.
“I have recently been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer,” she told HaltonHillsToday in an emailed statement. “Although I will be receiving treatment to, hopefully, prolong my life, I made the decision to withdraw from the election.”
The long-time councillor said she felt it would not have been fair to either the Town or the voters to run and then, possibly, trigger a by-election to replace her if she had been re-elected.
“I will try to serve out the remainder of this term to the best of my ability,” she noted.
She thanked the people of Halton Hills for their trust in her over the years.
"My years as a member of the Town of Halton Hills Council have been both an honour and a privilege," she said. "Although I couldn’t always keep everyone happy with my decisions, I have always tried to help people solve their issues and make decisions in the best interests of the Town."
She added, "I hope that those that will be elected to the new council will serve with integrity and a spirit of cooperation.”
Johnson has been on council since 1994. A nurse by trade, healthcare was one of her biggest concerns.
She leaves behind an impressive CV with postings as chair of a variety of committees, including four terms as the helm of the Accessibility Advisory Committee - work that earned her the Canadian Urban Institute's 2009 Local Hero Award.
