Josh Morgan (politician)

Joshua Douglas Morgan was born in rural Ontario near a small town named Camlachie.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Civic Elections: What fuels Josh Morgan's drive to be mayor? |url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/civic-election-what-fuels-josh-morgans-drive-to-be-mayor |author=Megan Stacey |date=October 12, 2022 |website=London Free Press |language=en-CA}}

In a joint statement, issued in May 2024, the couple announced they had amicably separated the previous summer.{{Cite web |title=Josh Morgan announces separation from his wife |date=9 May 2024 |url=https://london.ctvnews.ca/josh-morgan-announces-separation-from-his-wife-1.6880118}}

Morgan’s first campaign for a seat on London City Council came in 2006.[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"]. London Free Press, October 29, 2022. He lost to Ward 8 incumbent Paul Hubert by 23 votes.

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.{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2015 |title=Morgan Named Special Budget Advisor |url=https://blackburnnews.com/london/2015/11/23/morgan-named-special-budget-advisor/ |author=Miranda Chant |website=Blackburn News |language=en-US}}

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

During this term of council, Morgan was appointed budget chair, a role he occupied until 2021.Megan Stacey, [https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/mayor-touts-peloza-as-london-councils-new-budget-chair "Mayor touts Peloza as London council's new budget chair"]. London Free Press, March 31, 2021. He was also appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Ed Holder in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Josh Morgan named deputy mayor, but not without gender-based pushback |url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/josh-morgan-named-deputy-mayor-but-not-without-gender-based-pushback |author=Megan Stacey |date=October 20, 2020 |website=London Free Press |language=en-CA}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Moving on up? Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan seeking top job at City Hall |url=https://blackburnnews.com/london/london-news/2022/05/26/moving-deputy-mayor-josh-morgan-seeking-top-job-city-hall/ |author=Craig Needles |date=May 26, 2022 |website=Blackburn News |language=en-US}}

During the campaign, Morgan received endorsements 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.{{Cite web |title=London MPs, across party lines, agree on one thing: Who should be mayor |url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/london-mps-across-party-lines-agree-on-one-thing-who-should-be-mayor |author=Jennifer Bieman |date=September 26, 2022 |website=London Free Press |language=en-CA}}

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.

Morgan was sworn in as London’s 65th mayor on November 15, 2022.{{Cite web |author=Isha Bhargava |date=November 16, 2022 |title='Our differences are our strengths': London's new mayor and city council sworn in |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/our-differences-are-our-strengths-london-s-new-mayor-and-city-council-sworn-in-1.6652931 |website=CBC London |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-16 |title=London's new Deputy Mayor is… |url=https://london.ctvnews.ca/london-s-new-deputy-mayor-is-1.6155092 |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=London |language=en}}

Morgan delivered his first State of the City address{{Cite web |title=Full Text of 2023 State of the City Address |url=https://london.ca/state-city-address-2023-mayor-josh-morgan}} on January 17, 2023, before a crowd of approximately 1,300 people at RBC Place London.{{Cite web |title=$25M donation to new London, Ont. homeless plan announced at 2023 state of city address |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9415902/donation-new-london-homeless-plan-2023-state-of-city-address/}} During his remarks, Morgan announced that an anonymous family had donated $25-million to support a new health and homelessness system in London.{{Cite web |title='Incredible': Agencies buoyed by $25M gift to fight homelessness |url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/live-mayor-josh-morgans-first-state-of-the-city-address}} Morgan provided an update on the health and homelessness system during his second State of the City address on January 25, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-25 |title=Building on parking lots, office building conversions, and a gift from local developers: Highlights from the State of the City Address |url=https://london.ctvnews.ca/building-on-parking-lots-office-building-conversions-and-a-gift-from-local-developers-highlights-from-the-state-of-the-city-address-1.6741461 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=London |language=en}}

During Morgan's first year as Mayor he worked alongside 200 individual leaders from all backgrounds representing more that 70 local organizations to develop a system to tackle homelessness and health issues. This initiative was titled the Whole of Community Response.{{Cite web |title=State of the City Address 2023 - Mayor Josh Morgan {{!}} City of London |url=https://london.ca/government/council-civic-administration/city-council/mayor-josh-morgan/state-city-address-2023 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=london.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Whole of Community System Response to Health and Homelessness in London {{!}} City of London |url=https://london.ca/living-london/community-services/homeless-prevention-housing/whole-community-system-response-health |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=london.ca |language=en}} Since its inception, the program has received recognition as being one of the most auspicious plans to address health and homelessness.{{Cite news |last=Bhargava |first=Isha |date=August 23, 2023 |title=Ontario cities watching as London rolls out first-of-its-kind homeless response |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/amo-wraps-up-london-ontario-1.6945088 |work=CBC}} An anonymous London family donated $25-million dollars to the cause, allowing for its swift implementation.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Anonymous family donates $25 million to establish Fund For Change |url=https://www.lcf.on.ca/stories-backend/2023/1/17/anonymous-family-donates-25-million-to-establish-health-and-homelessness-fund-for-change |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=London Community Foundation |language=en-US}}

Morgan also championed the Mobility Master Plan.{{Cite web |title=London's Mobility Master Plan: How to Prioritize Mobility |url=https://www.londonenvironment.net/londons_mobility_master_plan |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=London Environmental Network |language=en}} The City of London continues to seek public feedback on the plan's development.{{cite web |title=Mobility Master Plan |url=https://london.ca/living-london/roads-sidewalks-transportation/mobility-master-plan |website=london.ca |publisher=City of London |access-date=19 November 2024 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Mayors of London, Ontario}}

{{Mayors in Ontario}}

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Category:21st-century mayors of places in Ontario

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of London, Ontario

Category:1978 births

Category:People from Lambton County

Category:University of Western Ontario alumni