Josh Morgan (politician) explained

Honorific Prefix:His Worship
Josh Morgan
Office:65th Mayor of London
Term Start:November 15, 2022
Predecessor:Ed Holder
Birth Name:Joshua Douglas Morgan
Birth Date:March 23, 1978
Nationality:Canadian
Party:Independent
Children:4
Residence:London, Ontario, Canada
Profession:Politician

Joshua Douglas Morgan is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the 65th mayor of London since 2022. He was elected mayor in the 2022 London municipal election.[1]

Early life

Joshua Douglas Morgan was born on March 23, 1978, in rural Ontario near a small town named Camlachie.

He moved to London in 1998 to study economics and political science at the University of Western Ontario, receiving a combined honours BA in 2002. In 2004, he received an MA in political science (local government; Canadian government) from Western.

It was at Western University where Morgan met his future wife Melanie. They were married in 2007 in London, Ontario, and have four children together.[2]

In a joint statement, issued in May 2024, the couple announced they had amicably separated the previous summer. [3]

City council

Morgan’s first campaign for a seat on London City Council came in 2006.[4] He lost to Ward 8 incumbent Paul Hubert by just 23 votes.[2]

Morgan did not run in the 2010 municipal election, but did put his name on the ballot in 2014 seeking to represent Ward 7. This time, he was successful and won the seat by taking 56.56 per cent of the vote. During this term of council, Morgan was the mayor's appointed adviser on the 2016-2019 multi-year budget, London’s first multi-year budget.[5]

Morgan was re-elected in 2018 as the Ward 7 city councillor by an even wider margin, winning 75.2 per cent of the vote.

During this term of council, Morgan was appointed budget chair, a role he occupied until 2021.[6] He was also appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Ed Holder in 2020.[7]

Mayoral campaign

Morgan filed his nomination papers to run for mayor of London on May 26, 2022, two days after Holder announced he would not seek re-election.[8]

His platform[9] focused on five key pillars: housing and affordability; mental health and addictions; inclusive and safe, vibrant neighbourhoods; climate change and economic prosperity.[10]

During the campaign, Morgan received a number of high-profile endorsements including those from Holder, London North Centre Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos, London-Fanshawe New Democrat MP Lindsay Mathyssen, Elgin-Middlesex-London Conservative MP Karen Vecchio, and the London and District Labour Council.[11]

Morgan was elected mayor on October 24, 2022, after having captured 65.72 per cent of the vote. Former Liberal MPP Khalil Ramal finished second with 22.59 per cent.[1]

Mayoralty

Morgan was sworn in as London’s 65th mayor on November 15, 2022.[12] During the inaugural meeting of the 2022-26 city council, Morgan nominated Ward 2 councillor Shawn Lewis to serve as deputy mayor, and Ward 12 councillor Elizabeth Peloza to serve as budget chair. Both appointments were for four years, and both appointments were approved unanimously by council.[13]

Morgan delivered his first State of the City address[14] on January 17, 2023, before a crowd of approximately 1,300 people at RBC Place London.[15] During his remarks, Morgan announced that an anonymous family had donated $25-million to support a new health and homelessness system in London.[16] Morgan provided an update on the health and homelessness system during his second Sate of the City address[17] on January 25, 2024.

Whole of Community Response

The Whole of Community Response to Health and Homelessness in London is a unique plan developed by Morgan alongside 200 individual leaders from all backgrounds, representing more that 70 local organizations. [18] Since its inception, the program has received national and worldwide recognition as being one of the most auspicious plans to address health and homelessness.[19]

Electoral record

2022 London Mayoral Election

CandidateVotes%
Josh MORGAN46,28365.72%
Khalil RAMAL15,91222.59%
Sandie THOMAS2,2973.26%
Sean O'CONNELL1,4322.03%
Johanne NICHOLS1,3391.90%
Daniel JEFFERY8101.15%
Brandon ELLIS7471.06%
Dan LENART7431.05%
Norman Robert MILES5360.76%
Carlos MURRAY3290.47%
2018 Municipal Election, Ward 7 City Council
CandidateVotes%
Josh MORGAN6,11775.2%
Joe KOLENKO2,02024.8%
2014 Municipal Election, Ward 7 City Council
CandidateVotes%
Josh MORGAN5,44456.56%
Donna SZPAKOWSKI1,39014.44%
Michael ESPOSITO1,24312.91%
Matthew KENNEDY8218.53%
Osam ALI7777.55%
2006 Municipal Election, Ward 8 City Council
CandidateVotes%
Paul HUBERT2,39228.6%
Josh MORGAN2,36928.3%
Connie L. GRAHAM1,85522.1%
Monica JARABEK1,76221.0%

Notes and References

  1. Matthew Trevithick, "Josh Morgan elected 65th mayor of London, Ont. with 65 per cent of vote". Global News, October 25, 2022.
  2. Web site: CIVIC ELECTION: What fuels Josh Morgan's drive to be mayor? . Megan Stacey . October 12, 2022 . . en-CA.
  3. Web site: Josh Morgan announces separation from his wife . 9 May 2024 .
  4. https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/lfp-archives-mayor-josh-morgans-first-unsuccessful-city-council-run "Mayor Josh Morgan's first (unsuccessful) city council run"
  5. Web site: November 23, 2015 . Morgan Named Special Budget Advisor . Miranda Chant . . en-US.
  6. Megan Stacey, "Mayor touts Peloza as London council's new budget chair". London Free Press, March 31, 2021.
  7. Web site: Josh Morgan named deputy mayor, but not without gender-based pushback . Megan Stacey . October 20, 2020 . . en-CA.
  8. Web site: Moving on up? Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan seeking top job at City Hall . Craig Needles . May 26, 2022 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Mayoral candidate Josh Morgan pledges 50,000 new homes for London, Ont. . 2022-10-27 . . Andrew Graham . en-US.
  10. Web site: Josh Morgan . September 14, 2022 . Andrew Graham . Global News.
  11. Web site: London MPs, across party lines, agree on one thing: Who should be mayor . Jennifer Bieman . September 26, 2022 . . en-CA.
  12. Web site: Isha Bhargava . November 16, 2022 . 'Our differences are our strengths': London's new mayor and city council sworn in . CBC London . en.
  13. Web site: 2022-11-16 . London's new Deputy Mayor is… . 2022-11-16 . London . en.
  14. Web site: Full Text of 2023 State of the City Address .
  15. Web site: $25M donation to new London, Ont. homeless plan announced at 2023 state of city address .
  16. Web site: 'Incredible': Agencies buoyed by $25M gift to fight homelessness .
  17. Web site: 2024-01-25 . Building on parking lots, office building conversions, and a gift from local developers: Highlights from the State of the City Address . 2024-04-29 . London . en.
  18. Web site: Whole of Community System Response to Health and Homelessness in London City of London . 2024-04-29 . london.ca . en.
  19. News: Bhargava . Isha . August 23, 2023 . Ontario cities watching as London rolls out first-of-its-kind homeless response . live . CBC.