Elliott takes seat in Ward 2
Ward 2 has a new councillor following the Oct. 27 municipal election.
John Elliott, executive director of Sandwich Teen Action Group, was elected as Ward 2 councillor after receiving 41 per cent of the votes. Frank Favot came in second place with 30 per cent. Elliott said he believe that getting a head start on the campaign led to his victory.
“We got out there and we got an early start in the campaign,” Elliot said. “We’ve spent a long grueling eight to nine months at the doors, literature and everything.”
Elliott’s Oct. 27 evening began with an election party at STAG. His campaign group, along with friends and family watched the poll results on TV. Around 9 p.m., he travelled to the Caboto Club with his party. During the car ride he found out he was elected on one of the radio stations. Inside the Caboto Club he was greeted by his supporters and friends and family. They welcomed him and congratulated him for his successful campaign. Teejai Travis,owner of The Bloomfield House, said Elliott’s reputation influenced the voting process. Travis believes Elliott should have won four years ago.
“His natural progress in his career shows that he’s been community organizing for a long time and we’re really excited for him to be sitting on ward council,” said Travis. “I think he’s going to create a safe space for the community to take a real participatory stance in the political process.”
This was Elliott’s second time running for Ward 2 councillor. In the 2010 election he lost to Ron Jones by three votes. Taking the experience from the previous election, Elliott said he learned that going around the ward would increase his reputation.
“We went across the ward as far as knocking on the door,” Elliott said. “People want to know who you are and who you’re all about so being able to get right across the ward was the key.”
According to citywindsor.ca, Ward 2 candidates Joan Mavrinac finished in third place with 16 per cent of votes, along with Kevin Flood with seven per cent. James Ging had three per cent and Dmitrius Djankovic had less than one per cent of the votes.