A defeated candidate in Essex is speaking out.
Councillor Randy Voakes was not re-elected during Monday's municipal election.
Voakes has sat on council for four terms but has been in many heated confrontations with his council colleagues over the years including Mayor Ron McDermott.
He believes the conflicts may have been one of the reasons voters wanted change.
"Let's not kid one another, obviously the conflict and controversy on council, I think, could have tainted the election results a little bit in terms of people choices," says Voakes.
But he respects the outcome.
"I'm not going to tell you I was or wasn't surprised," says Voakes. "There were good candidates running, a good opportunity for people to exercise their opportunities and the reality is, is that the people of the Town of Essex have decided now they want a little change in council which I got to be honest with you, I'm okay with that."
The race for ward one was won by Joe Garon and Morley Bowman.