2026 Oxford County Municipal Election
Zorra — Ward 2 Councillor
We asked. Adam Skeggs answered. You decide.
Answers are published as submitted.
I. Candidate & Municipal Governance
1. Candidate Introduction
Please introduce yourself to the residents of Oxford County. Briefly tell us why you are running for municipal office, what principles or values would guide you as an elected official, and what you believe is the most important issue facing the municipality you are seeking to represent. What would you do about it?
My name is Adam Skeggs. I grew up in Thamesford, loved being a Thunderbird at TPS, watched the Trojans win numerous championships and enjoyed hosting friends every May 24 weekend. I’m running for office, hoping to influence the future construction and layout of the town to benefit the next generation. I’m hoping to keep the “small town” feel, creating visible, open, accessible hang out spots and have opportunities for youth employment. I believe this next phase in construction is the most important issue for Thamesford residents.
2. Local vs. Provincial Authority
Municipalities are increasingly affected by decisions, policies and requirements established by the provincial government. What degree of local discretion do you believe municipalities should have when provincial direction affects decisions within municipal jurisdiction? When, if ever, should a municipality challenge or oppose provincial direction? Please explain.
I think municipalities should have a mechanism to push back on certain decisions made by the provincial government. Anything that has a large impact on residents, such as water/air quality, large resource extraction (farmland, mining) or big business that require a lot of resources (data centres, garbage dumps) should be able to be rejected. When responsibilities and costs are passed down to municipalities without much of a heads up, and ways to receive income (development charges, etc) are taken away at the same time…ouch! We should have a bit of recourse.
3. Accountability & Access
Once elected, how will you maintain open communication and accountability with your constituents? What level of access should residents have to you, and what responsibility do you have to explain and defend your decisions and votes, particularly when constituents disagree with them?
I will stick with the communication portals given to me by the municipality. I believe it is an email account and/or social media portal administered by the municipality. Through these avenues, I will explain all the decisions I have made.
4. Staff vs. Elected Council
What do you believe is the proper division of responsibility between municipal staff and elected council? What decisions should be made by staff, what decisions should be made by council, and what responsibility should elected officials retain for decisions recommended or implemented by staff?
I believe municipal staff should have input for all things. Their experience and knowledge must be part of the decision-making process. Responsibility for decisions recommended by staff would still lie with the elected officials.
5. Candidate Social-Media History
Have you ever deleted, hidden or substantially altered past social-media posts or other publicly available online content because you believed it might affect how voters viewed you or your candidacy? If so, what did you change and why?
I have never commented on anything, ever on social media. I believe it is the worst thing ever invented.
II. Taxes, Growth & Development
6. Taxes & Services
What annual municipal property-tax increase do you consider reasonable over the next four years? If maintaining existing services would require an increase above that level, what principles would you use to determine which services or expenditures should be reduced, delayed or eliminated instead? Please explain.
I believe property-tax increases 1.5% per year maximum, would be a goal, if no new source of revenue arrives. Property-taxes should never be above inflation. I’d have to see all services, etc. to see what to reduce, but would prefer to ask for more from businesses that take much from area.
7. Population Growth & Agricultural Land
Oxford County’s current planning projections anticipate substantial population growth over the coming decades, creating increasing pressure on agricultural land. Should Oxford plan to accommodate the projected level of growth, or should the County and its municipalities seek to influence the rate and/or location of future growth? When development competes with agricultural and food-production uses, should agricultural land and food production receive priority? What principles should guide these decisions? Please explain.
Absolutely municipalities should influence future growth. I believe Oxford is a prosperous area because of minimal growth, minimal urban sprawl, small town feel, rural roads that are a pleasure to drive compared. I believe agricultural land, including bush should receive priority. I would like to see a secondary process done to all farm products and natural resources extracted from the area, within the area.
III. Energy & Major Development
8. Wind & Utility-Scale Solar
What is your position on industrial wind turbine and utility-scale solar developments in Oxford County? If your municipality were asked to determine whether it should be a willing or unwilling host for a large-scale wind or solar project, how would you vote, and what factors would guide your decision? Please explain.
I would not be supportive of industrial size wind or solar developments on land within Zorra. I do support solar for rooftops and to provide shade (ie. Parking lots, parks).
9. Data Centres
What is your position on approving data centres in Oxford County? Under what circumstances, if any, would you support one? How should council weigh its potential economic benefits against demands on electricity, water, land and other municipal infrastructure? Please explain.
I think the economic benefits are minimal, specifically after the construction, and the environmental impacts are enormous.
IV. Property Rights, Environment & Climate
10. Property Rights & Environmental Regulation
What principles should determine the balance between private property rights and municipal environmental regulation? What limits, if any, should municipalities place on environmental restrictions affecting the use of privately owned rural land? Please explain.
I think “the greater good” should be the principles determining the balance. Health and safety, sustainability over greed and growth. Chemical use, run off into water system should be regulated.
11. Climate Change & CO₂
What role, if any, do you believe carbon dioxide emissions play in climate change? What responsibility, if any, should municipal government have for addressing climate-related issues, and should municipal taxpayers fund those efforts? Please explain.
I believe carbon emissions play a role in climate change. I think the municipal government should have policies that promote reduced carbon emissions. Plant trees, smart traffic plans, renewable energy use.
V. Municipal Policy & Public Institutions
12. DEI, Hiring & Public Services
When municipal government makes decisions about hiring employees or providing services, what role, if any, should a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, disability, newcomer status or other demographic characteristics play? Do you support mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training for municipal employees, and should municipal taxpayers fund it? Please explain.
I don’t think demographic characteristics should play much role in the hiring process. I think experience and skills should get the candidate 95% of the way there, and these characteristics could be considered at that point.
13. International Policy Frameworks
What role, if any, should international policy frameworks such as the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals play in municipal decision-making? If municipal policies are influenced by such frameworks, what responsibility does council have to ensure that those decisions remain transparent and accountable to local residents? Please explain.
I think these are positive policies and will already be a part of the decision making in general. Specific policies that are linked specifically to those frameworks should be identified as so.
VI. Public Safety, Privacy & Emergency Powers
14. Flock Cameras & Surveillance
What is your position on the use of Flock cameras and other automated licence-plate recognition (ALPR) or camera-based surveillance systems by municipalities for public safety? What limits, if any, should apply to their use, and how should council balance public safety with residents’ privacy? Please explain.
I do not condone any surveillance of the general public. If a neighborhood requested something like that, to “catch car break ins” then a timeline would be implemented and anyone should be able to access, not just police.
15. Public-Health Emergency Powers
If another public-health emergency occurred, what restrictions, if any, should a municipality be able to impose on access to municipal buildings, facilities, programs or community activities? What role should elected council have in approving or overseeing such restrictions, and what limits should apply to municipal authority during an emergency? Please explain.
I think Covid was done a little heavy-handed but I believe officials were all copying each other and doing the safest thing they thought of. I think municipal authorities should have a say in restrictions, but must have professional and expert information available to make such decisions.
Questionnaire sent: September 8, 2026
Response received: September 22, 2026
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