Chatham-Kent residents have elected a new mayor.
According to unofficial results, Michael Bondy has been elected as mayor, taking over the tenure from Darrin Canniff.
On Monday, Canniff lost his re-election bid to Bondy, with the unofficial count showing 15,818 votes for Bondy and Canniff finishing behind with 11,501 votes.
Bondy took 43.4 per cent of the vote while Canniff took 31.6 per cent of 36,410 votes cast.
Bondy was first elected to Chatham-Kent council in 2010. Canniff was first elected mayor in 2018 after serving as councillor for one term.
Bondy says it was important to listen to the residents.
“Like The Hub for instance, I listened to the public and I changed my mind on that because I understood the public sentiment and on a number of issues throughout the years... Victoria Avenue... The Hub, and now in the future where are we going with a new arena which likely will happen under this term.”
Canniff says he put the effort into a great campaign.
“So the people spoke and they want change, so they’re getting change, and I accept that and it’s time to move on, and when one door closes more open.”
He says he wishes the community well.
“I want council to rally and keep the progress that we’ve made the last eight years going, and keep the arts and culture and all those different things that were making a difference in our community... I want that to keep going, but we’ll see.”
Mark Authier and Melissa Harrigan won the two seats in ward 1, Anthony Ceccacci and Albert Pilbeam won the seats in ward 2, Emery Huszka won the lone seat in ward 3, Rhonda Jubenville claimed the seat in ward 4, Jim Blake and Bill Wolsing won the two seats in ward 5, Alysson Storey and F. Brian Machado won in ward 6, Steve Kenney and Amy Finn won in ward 7, and Brock McGregor and Conor Allin won the two seats in ward 8.
Based on unofficial results, voter turnout sat at 40.79 per cent.