Larry Snively taking over as mayor, controversial Councillor Randy Voakes being replaced in Ward 1.
A change in Ward 1 overshadowed the announcement of a new mayor after unofficial results were released in Essex.
Larry Snively will move from councillor to mayor, beating out former Ward 3 Councillor Ron Rogers by just 117 votes, his third attempt at mayor. The mayoral results drew some applause, but the room erupted after it was announce controversial councillor Randy Voakes would not return as councillor of Ward 1. He finished a distant third to new Ward 1 Councillors Morley Bowman and Joe Garon.
Steve Bjorkman retained his seat after moving from Ward 1 to Ward 3, he'll be joined by former reporter and columnist Chris Vander Doelen. Bowman, Garon and Vander Doelen will join Kim Verbeek in Ward 2 as four new faces on council.
"I'm very excited about the newly elected council, we have some new faces coming forward. We did have some differences in the past, but I think we're going to move this municipality forward in the right direction," says Snively.
Snively was involved in a dust up with Voakes at council back in August, one of several incidents over the past four years where heated words were exchange in the Essex County Civic Centre.
At the end of the day Snively chose to see past disputes as water under the bridge.
"Mr. Voakes worked very, very hard as councillor and I have all the respect in the world for him," he says. "Yes, there were some differences there, but he did work hard for the residents of Ward 1."
Outgoing Mayor Ron McDermott called the results before they came in. He told AM800 News Snively would edge out Rogers with Katie McGuire-Blais and Rob Shepley trailing.
"He'll do a good job. The last four years he [Snively] was on council he really worked hard," says McDermid. "I figured it would be a close race between him and Ron Rogers."
Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche easily held on to his seat over Phil Pocock and Sherry Bondy held off Paul Innes to remain at the helm for Ward 4.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
MAYOR:
Larry Snively (ELECTED) Votes: 2261
Katie McGuire-Blais Votes: 1358
Ron Rogers Votes: 2144
Rob Shepley Votes: 1122
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Richard Meloche (incumbent) (ELECTED) Votes: 4012
Phil Pocock Votes: 2737
CITY COUNCIL:
WARD 1– two to be elected
Morley Bowman (ELECTED) Votes: 1062
Joe Garon (ELECTED) Votes: 1570
Fred Groves Votes: 478
Tom Holland Votes: 277
Randy Voakes (incumbent) Votes: 741
WARD 2 – one to be elected
Terry Brockman Votes: 499
Kim Verbeek (ELECTED) Votes: 803
Mark Williams Votes: 71
WARD 3 – two to be elected
Steve Bjorkman (incumbent from Ward 1) (ELECTED) Votes: 898
Rodney Hammond Votes: 843
Chris Vander Doelen (ELECTED) Votes:1032
Ward 4 – one to be elected
Sherry Bondy (incumbent) (ELECTED) Votes: 843
Paul Innes Votes: 238