Windsor elects municipal government

By Matt Flood

Windsorites made their voices known as they elected their new municipal government Oct. 22.

Voters hit the streets across Ontario to vote for mayors, councillors and school board trustees. The 103 polling stations throughout Windsor received voters and after the polls closed at 8 p.m. were revealed live online.

A live result viewing event was hosted at the St. Clair College Centre for The Arts in the Skyline Room where many voters and candidates were present. 

Incumbent Drew Dilkens won the mayor’s race with 59.4 per cent of the vote and runner-up Matt Marchand finished with 35.5 per cent, a winning margin of 23.9 per cent. Ernie Lamont received 2.1 per cent while both Tom Hensel and Frank Dyck received 1.5 per cent.

Dilkens spoke to the crowd at the SCCA shortly after the results became clear.

“We had a campaign where we got to share ideas, we got to share experience and we got to share visions for the city that we each love and that we call home and tonight, you have spoken,” said Dilkens. “I want to thank you for allowing me to continue moving Windsor forward.”

Like Dilken’s seat, many on city council were reclaimed by their incumbent candidates, with the exception of four wards. The new councillors are Fabio Costante in Ward 2, Gary Kaschak in Ward 8, Kieran McKenzie in Ward 9 and Jim Morrison in Ward 10. All new councillors defeated their incumbent opponents with the exception of Gary Kaschak, as former councillor Bill Marra elected not to run.

For school board trustees, many new faces haven won seats alongside incumbents. On the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School board there are three new faces while all other incumbents were re-elected. Tony Polifroni won the trustee seat for Wards 2 and 9, Kim Bouchard won the seat for Wards 6 and 7.

Half of the candidates elected on the Greater Essex County District School Board includes Linda Qin for Wards 1, 2 and 9, Sarah Cipkar for Wards 3, 4 and 10 and Cathy Cooke for Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Despite many incumbents being re-elected across the board, some voters were disappointed their wards did not elect new officials.

“I’m disappointed the person I voted for did not win because I really don’t see the current councillor doing anything in my ward and the person I voted for came door to door every day,” said university student Colin Zorzit. “I had a great conversation with her, so I’m disappointed but that’s the way it goes.”

Zorzit said he hopes Windsor’s municipal government can work together moving forward and argue less, a similar view of retired engineer Dale Brown.

“I’m hoping the council will be more evenly balanced so that we’ll have some good discussion and more balanced decision making,” said Brown.

The elected representatives will begin their terms Dec. 1.