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Corker is the people’s mayor

She has been in office since 1993

Chris Masson
The Gazette
Thursday, July 17, 2008

Before 1993, Elizabeth Corker was a stay-at-home mom who was decidedly apolitical. But when she noticed a number of local issues, including the future of Hudson’s Sandy Beach, she, and some like-minded friends, decided to get involved.

“We decided that instead of griping about things on the sidelines, we should jump right in with both feet,” Corker said.

And so, in 1993, her small group of concerned Hudson residents tossed their hats into the demure ring of small-town municipal politics. Much to their surprise, they were all elected, winning a total of six council seats and the mayorship.

“We were quite surprised,” Corker said. “ I remember we were all celebrating at the end of election night, when suddenly one of us stood up and asked: ‘Now that we’ve won, what do we do?’ ”

They must have figured it out somehow, as Corker has been in office ever since.

She is serving her fourth term as mayor. When that ends in 2009, she plans to retire. One could hardly say she doesn’t deserve it; in addition to being mayor, Corker has worked
another full-time job for the last eight years, running a construction company with her husband.

In both jobs, Corker’s education has been an important asset to her.

She received her first degree from Loyola College before moving to New York and working on Madison Ave. While living there, however, her first husband was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of cancer and passed away four months later. And so, at 23, with her 9-month old son in tow, she headed back to Montreal where she earned an MBA from Concordia University.

Corker has loved Hudson ever since moving there in 1979 with her current husband.

“When I was working in the city, I’d come back home over the île aux Tourtes bridge and as soon as I crossed it, I’d feel like I could breathe a little easier,” Corker reflects.

“Driving home along the lakeside road, I’d feel like I was coming back into heaven. Hudson is the best of both worlds – fresh air, I can walk down the street and see people I know, while at the same time, we’re still close enough to the city to enjoy all that it has to offer.”

She admits though, that living in such a small community can have its drawbacks – it is not uncommon for Corker to receive emails or phone calls from citizens at home.
“They find you no matter where you are,” Corker said.

Once, a man phoned her and complained to her about two speed bumps – Hudson's first – the city had installed on his street. He kept her on the phone for nearly an hour.

A year later though, the man was on the phone again, this time to tell the mayor that she was right; the speed bumps turned out to be a very good idea.

For Corker, incidents like this get at what is at the heart of being mayor.

“You can’t please everybody,” she said. “You just have to do what you think is best for the town.”

At the moment, what is best for the town is the upgrade to its infrastructure that is underway. Construction crews are installing the city’s first municipal sewer system, an upgrade Corker enthusiastically explained will allow for a new medical centre, senior citizens’ complex, palliative care facility, and “endless commercial opportunities.”

“It's a very exciting time,” she said.

Despite the expansion, Corker hopes and predicts Hudson will steer clear of the boom in population and construction that is so prevalent in nearby municipalities like St. Lazare and Vaudreuil/Dorion, which she described as “frightening.”

Corker’s profile

Last book she read: A Thousand Splendid Suns, the sequel to The Kite Runner

Last movie she watched: “Oh gosh, I can't even remember! It's been awhile.”

Favourite pastimes: Walking, and enjoying fine cuisine with her husband.

Hidden talents: Can remember numbers very easily.

Most prized possession: “My family.”

Something you hate to admit: “Being born in Toronto.”