By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
Six years after he helped defeat the Red Baron and his cohorts, George Andrew was called upon to shoot down Sarnia’s economic troubles.
Andrew, who served in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, was elected our 42nd Mayor in 1924.
It was a time when the City was reeling from both a burdensome debt load and high taxes.
The new Chief Magistrate moved quickly to implement his own ‘common sense revolution’ dramatically cutting municipal expenditures. In fact, Council refrained from approving any large capital projects during his time in office.
In a move that would be copied seven decades later by Ontario Premier Mike Harris, Andrew gave ratepayers a modest tax break.
Possibly as a result of these actions, Council was able to collect $76,000.00 in tax arrears during his one year at the helm.
The Municipality also grew industrially, with the Dominion Alloy Steel plant starting work on a $3 million plant that year.
According to The Observer, Mayor Andrew delivered a farewell speech to Council in which he “called attention to the reduction in taxes which had been made this year and declared that the finances of the City were in as good shape as those of any other community of a similar size in Ontario”.
In an editorial, The Observer agreed the Mayor had put the City’s financial house in order. “Sarnia has the good fortune to be a going concern that is making money”, it said. “The debenture debt is being paid off at an average rate of $130,000.00 a year”.
Mayor Andrew did not seek re-election in 1925, deciding instead to serve on the local Public School Board.
A native of Mooretown, Andrew worked as a farmer, contractor and harbour master before retiring.
He was married to Elizabeth Vernum and they had five children, two of whom were killed in action during the Second World War.
Andrew died on May 17, 1952 at age 70.