No Barrhaven or Orlans councillors on transit commission

Ottawa's transit commission this term of council will have no councillors from the growing suburbsof Barrhaven or Orlans, while the west end willbe well-representedwith four votes at the table.

It's just one of the many nuances in how Mayor Jim Watson, working with the city clerk's office,gave leadership roles and committee votesto members of this new council.

Transit and roadswere Coun. Carol Anne Meehan's top priorities when she ran in Gloucester South Nepean this election.

On her survey for which committees she'd like to sit on, the rookie councillor made transit her top choice. Coun. Shawn Menardin Capital named transit his second choice.

Neither gota seat,however, while Stittsville's Glen Gower got one even though he ranked transithis fifth choice, and Kanata councillorsAllan Hubley, Jenna Sudds and Bay ward's Theresa Kavanaghwere also named in the west end.

Last term, the commission had representation from each of Orlans, Kanataand South Nepean, as well as two downtown councillors and two fromolder suburbs within the Greenbelt.

Hubley named transit chair

Meehan told CBCNews she is disappointed but not every councillor got what they wanted. She plans to attend transit meetings anyway and speak to her ward's issues, even if she doesn't have a vote.

"I'm just assured intalking to the people who are on transit that it's going to bea priority for them as well. I take them at their word, and I'm going to be there to make surethat it will be," Meehansaid.

KanataSouth councillor Allan Hubley, however, gothis first choice pick he willchair transit commission this term.

Along with a few citizen members who willbe appointed eventually, the eight councillorson transit commissionthisterm are:

• KanataSouth's Allan Hubley (chair).
• Alta Vista's Jean Cloutier(vice-chair).
• Kanata North's Jenna Sudds.
• Stittsville'sGlen Gower.
• Bay's Theresa Kavanagh.
• Beacon Hill-Cyrville'sTim Tierney.
• Somerset's Catherine McKenney.
• River's Riley Brockington.