Municipal elections usher in change in some areas

There were plenty of surprises across Windsor-Essex in Monday’s municipal elections as a number of new candidates became councillors, with some even landing in the mayor and deputy mayor seats. 

In Leamington, incumbent Hilda MacDonald held off a strong campaign from Cris Biron to return to the mayor’s seat, while Paul Tiessen took the deputy mayor’s chair over Dean Wilkinson.

As far as the council seats go, three incumbents will return in Bill Dunn, Tim Wilkinson and Anthony Abraham, while newcomers John Biekx and Chad Robinson will join them in the chambers for the next four years.

Ethan Wuerch took the Greater Essex County Public School Board trustee race over incumbent Cheryl Lovell.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Providence board race between David Tremblay and Doris Sauvé had not been released as of press time.

Over in Kingsville, newcomer Mary Ellen Havlik took the mayor’s seat, defeating incumbent Dennis Rogers and fellow challengers Thomas Neufeld and Roshan Nallaratnam.

Kimberly DeYong will return as deputy mayor with her victory over challenger Robert Brando.

Councillor Tony Gaffan will return for another term, along with fellow incumbents Debby Jarvis-Chausse and Sheri Lowrie. Newcomers Adam Edwards and Janice Durocher will fill out the council seats. 

David Keller narrowly defeated Jenna Knapp for the lone seat on the Greater Essex County Public School Board.

Mary DiMenna was acclaimed for her seat as the trustee for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

Emmanuelle Richez was also accaimed for the Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French Public Board). 

In Chatham-Kent, long-time councillor Michael Bondy defeated incumbent Darrin Canniff for the mayor’s job, while Mark Authier returns to council in Ward 1, alongside incumbent Melissa Harrigan. Councillor Lauren Anderson was unsuccessful in her mayoral bid, finishing third in the race for the top chair.

D. Randy Campbell and Joselyn Young Cormier were both elected as Public School Board trustees for Ward 1. Brenda Rumble was acclaimed for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board. 

On Pelee Island, Dave DeLellis defeated opponent Jaak Purres, while Dayne Malloch, Dean Robillard, Jeff Wiper and Christopher Watson took the council seats.

The following results are still classified as unofficial:

LEAMINGTON

MAYOR

Hilda MacDonald 3,365

Cris Biron 2,958

DEPUTY MAYOR

Paul Tiessen 3,612

Dean Wilkinson 2,497

COUNCIL

Bill Dunn 3,635

Tim Wilkinson 3,416

John Biekx 2,625

Anthony Abraham 2,452

Chad Robinson 2,437

Mandi Quiring 2,381

Heather Latam 2,279

Corey Robertson 2,050

Carol Bell 1,341

Nigel Williams 1,194

Rielly O’Shaughnessy 1,086

Bruce Medcalf 861

Oscar Ramirez 792

Reneé Knight 664

KINGSVILLE

MAYOR

Mary Ellen Havlik 2,667

Dennis Rogers 2,323

Thomas Neufeld 2,148

Roshan Nallaratnam 784

DEPUTY MAYOR

Kimberly DeYong 5,177

Robert Bando 2,601

COUNCIL

Tony Gaffan 5,411

Janice Durocher 4,189

Debby Jarvis-Chausse 3,822

Adam Edwards 3,763

Sheri Lowrie 3,721

John Musselman 3,098

Sam Hrutka 2,923

Stephen Higgins 2,718

Rina Testa-Plancke 2,544

PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD – English

David Keller 2,873

Jenna Knapp 2,812

CHATHAM-KENT

MAYOR

Michael Bondy 15,818

Darrin Canniff 11,501

Lauren Anderson 4,983

Randy Hope 2,818

April Colby 570

Nelson Burm 469

Ryan Gow 251

WARD 1 COUNCIL

Mark Authier 2,998

Melissa Harrigan 1,653

Gerhard Taves 905

Michael Bond 840

Andrea Palmer 535

Tom Askew 348

SCHOOL BOARD – Public Ward 1

D. Randy Campbell 4,875

Joselyn Young Cormier 3,978

Chris White 3,723

David Pelgrims 1,471

PELEE ISLAND

MAYOR

David DeLellis 213

Jaak Purres 89

COUNCIL

Dayne Malloch 192

Dean Robillard 154

Jeff Wiper 151

Christopher Watson 124

Stephanie Briggs-Crawford 122

Matthew Pearson 98

Brandon Alliet 86

David Moulton 83