Jan Harder
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Jan Harder (born, 1951 in Ottawa) is an Ottawa City Councillor she represents the ward of Barrhaven. She is also the chair of the Ottawa Public Library board, which sets policy and has the ultimate say in decisions. While born in Ottawa, she spent her youth in a number of different Ontario cities. Trained as a radiological technician, she eventually became an executive in the grocery business. She first entered politics in 1997 when she was elected to Nepean city council. With the creation of the new city of Ottawa, Harder ran against regional councillor Molly McGoldrick-Larsen. While the race was expected to be close, Harder ended up winning by several thousand votes.
One of her first efforts on city council was the successful campaign to replace the new coat of arms with that of the old city of Ottawa. She also led a campaign to have filters installed on computers in the public libraries that would keep users from accessing pornography. Controversy also broke out when she was reported as referring to those who support extending mass transit to rural areas as "friggin yahoos." She also was criticized for blaming crime in her ward on "non-whites coming into our community looking to cause trouble." Despite these difficulties she was easily reelected in the 2003 Ottawa election, by defeating newcomer John R. Palmer.
Harder is heavily active in Conservative politics and in the past mused about running federally in her riding.
In the November 2006 municipal elections, Harder retained her position as councillor with 75% of the vote in Barrhaven Ward.
Jan's daughter, Elena ran for the vacant Orléans Ward seat in a by-election in January, 2006, but was unsuccessful.
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| Preceded by None, ward amalgamated into Ottawa in 2000 |
City councillors from Bell-South Nepean Ward 2000-2006 |
Succeeded by Ward abolished |
| Preceded by Ward created |
City councillors from Barrhaven Ward 2006-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
