Rob Burton

After receiving his master's degree in 1971, he became a journalist for the Watertown Daily Times in New York State.

Up against five-term incumbent Ann Mulvale, Burton ultimately lost his first bid for mayor by a total of 28 votes.

[12] In his time as mayor, Burton has been an outspoken advocate for growth control, environmental protection and greenspace.

[13] In 2015, Burton apologized for a series of tweets comparing Stephen Harper's use of veterans in the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires to Mussolini's Blackshirts and Hitler's Brownshirts.

[14] Burton is the founder and chair of the Ontario Auto Mayors, a group of municipal leaders in communities with a large automotive manufacturing presence, advocating for more coordinated support of Ontario's automotive sector among all three levels of government.