Throughout his years of service, Mayor Newman was called sincere, conscientious, dedicated, selfless, and a fireball. He ran for Minister of Parliament for Oshawa-Whitby in 1968 and for Minister of Provincial Parliament for Whitby-Ajax-Pickering in 1975. Despite losing both elections, his impact on the local community and the greater Canadian municipal political climate was obvious.

In Whitby, his legacy is commemorated with the naming of the Des Newman Arena Complex at Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Des Newman Blvd. in Whitby’s west end, and most recently the Des Newman WhitBEE District Park.

Mayor Newman’s motivations were rooted in community. He strived to create a Town of Whitby that would benefit his children and his children’s children. In his inaugural address of 1970, he remarked on one objective – that of helping men and women up the ladder of human dignity.

With the loss in the 1975 provincial election, Mayor Newman retired from politics. He focused his attention on his business and remains involved in supporting his community. Des Newman donated the records he created as Mayor of Whitby to the Archives at Whitby Public Library and they are available to the community and researchers alike.