Sharon Gaetz

{{Short description|Former mayor of Chilliwack}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Sharon Lee Gaetz

| image = Sharon Gaetz.jpg

| caption = Sharon Gaetz speaking at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2013

| birth_name =

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| birth_place = North Vancouver

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| nationality = Canadian

| spouse = James Francis Gaetz

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| children = 2

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| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|Pastor}}

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{{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes

|honorific-prefix = Honourable

|name =

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|office = Mayor of Chilliwack

|term_start = December 1, 2008

|term_end = November 6, 2018

|predecessor = Clint Hames

|successor = Ken Popove

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{{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes

| office = City Councillor

| term_start = 1996

| term_end = 2008

}}

}}

}}

Sharon L. Gaetz is a former mayor of the City of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She was first elected to that office in the 2008 election and served three consecutive terms.{{Cite news|work=The Province|title=Gaetz Chilliwack's new first lady|date=November 16, 2008|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=1786b498-446d-492e-b5cb-efcf77621b54|accessdate=July 2, 2013}} In 2018, she lost to incumbent city councillor Ken Popove whilst seeking a fourth term.{{cite web |title=2018 Election Results |url=https://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2813 |website=City of Chilliwack |accessdate=20 October 2018}} She remains the only woman in the city's history elected to the office of mayor. She previously served twelve years as a city councillor, during which time she served as acting mayor.{{cite news |last1=Gawdin |first1=Sarah |title=Sharon Gaetz lost in Chilliwack’s mayoral election, but is ‘grateful for the 22 years the city gave me.’ |url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/sharon-gaetz-lost-in-chilliwacks-mayoral-election-but-is-grateful-for-the-22-years-the-city-gave-me-1884344 |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=Chilliwack Progress |publisher=Black Press Media |date=22 October 2018}} Mayor Gaetz also served as director of the Fraser Valley Regional District.{{Cite news|work=Chilliwack Times|title='Heated' debate at FVRD meeting|author=Paul J. Henderson|date=June 27, 2013|url=http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/Heated+debate+FVRD+meeting/8585240/story.html|accessdate=July 2, 2013}} She was not affiliated with any political party whilst in public office. She described herself as a “fiscal conservative with a strong social conscience” politically.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Paul |title=Chilliwack mayor says she’s running for re-election |url=https://www.theprogress.com/municipal-election/chilliwack-mayor-says-shes-running-for-re-election-1882309 |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=Chilliwack Progress |agency=Chilliwack Progress |publisher=Black Press Media |date=29 August 2018}}

In 2007, then-Councillor Gaetz presented information about cannabis cultivation to Chilliwack's social issues advisory committee.{{Cite news|work=Chilliwack Times|title=Social forum exams solutions|date=November 16, 2007|url=http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/story.html?id=1df4bb4b-71a5-4806-9d40-8b1838214f12&k=67765|accessdate=July 2, 2013}} Also that year, she supported the densification of the city through the construction of an apartment building containing 71 units.{{Cite news|work=Chilliwack Times|title=Denser, but at what cost?|date=November 16, 2007|url=http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/story.html?id=98a6ffdc-8959-4ce3-a35f-f744bcf47d55|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}