Bill Baker and the Essex election

First time mayoral hopeful Bill Baker finished the Essex election 399 votes behind Ron McDermott, who won.

 

Bill Baker entered the Portuguese Club in Harrow at 11 p.m. with the election results. Baker came in the room smiling and announced the results to a crowd of about 50 of his supporters.

 

“Everyone I have some news, the town voted and we didn’t win,” said Baker.

 

Baker finished with 2,220 votes. McDermott is now serving his fourth term as Mayor of Essex.

 

Baker, who was running for the first time, had been working on his campaign for over four months. Despite losing he said he wasn’t angry or upset, but disappointed for the community.

 

“Sixty six per cent of voters said we wanted change and we didn’t get change based on our system,” said Baker.

 

There was a 53.82 per cent turnout in the Essex election. 7,928 of 14,731 residents eligible to vote cast a ballot according to CTV News.

 

Essex resident Eric Parent said he didn’t vote because he didn’t support any of the candidates.

 

“They all make promises they can’t keep, just to get voted in and the town never gets out of debt,” said Parent.

 

Baker and his team are looking forward, with no word on if he will run again. Baker said he is excited to have more time with his family.

 

“When you run for public life you give your time to the public, so I plan on giving a lot more to my family now,” said Baker.

 

Out of the 14,731 voters the majority of those people were not looking to re-elect the current mayor. McDermott ended his victory speech by suggesting he will retire in four years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Baker is seen hugging his wife just minutes after receiving the news that he lost the Town of Essex mayoral election.