CORNWALL, Ontario – City council is leaning towards appointing an individual to fill a vacant seat at the table, as opposed to convening a by-election.
Seaway News reached out to a number of councillors Friday to ask how they plan to fill Brock Frost’s seat at the table. Councillors Elaine MacDonald, Maurice Dupelle, Claude McIntosh, David Murphy, Carilyne Hebert, Mark MacDonald and Andre Rivette were all emphatic in their opposition to a by-election.
“A by-election would be foolish,” said Elaine MacDonald.
So with all those votes already in the bank there’s not nearly enough support to convene a by-election.
“If we had two or three people (to replace) then maybe a by-election,” said Hebert. “But at this point I’m not in favour of it.”
Council is expected to be officially notified of its options for filling the vacant seat at its first meeting Nov. 9, with a decision to come on how it plans to act at the Nov. 23 session.
Council has 60 days to decide how it wants to fill the open spot. A by-election would be convened exactly like a typical ballot, with just as many polling stations and staff on the job.
Some have pegged the cost to be as much as $150,000, which soured many councillors on going that route.
“I can’t see spending that kind of money on a by-election,” said Mark MacDonald.
Murphy agrees.
“It doesn’t make financial sense,” he said. “I can think of more effective ways to use that kind of money to help with our budget.”
The sentiment appears to leave the door wide open for the return of Denis Carr to the council fold. Carr has publicly stated he would return to council if asked – and councillors appear very close to asking.
“We have to bring in in someone who can hit the ground running,” said Rivette. “We don’t have a lot of time to train someone.”
Rivette tried, unsuccessfully, to have council vote on the matter at its last regular meeting.
There appears to be growing sentiment among councillors to vote on the issue Nov. 9, given the way the majority is thinking.
“I’d like to make a decision on this as soon as possible,” said Hebert.
Not everyone, though, is against a by-election. Coun. Justin Towndale wants to see one.
“If you look at provincial or federal politics, it’s the practice there when an MPP or MP resigns,” he said. “I think that the people should decide who fills the vacant seat. We are only just over a year of a four-year term.
“We may also find ourselves with new candidates who were not able to run last year, or have since taken an interest in running. There has also been some talk about adding referendums on fluoride and a ward system.
“I realize that there is a cost, but this is the cost of democracy. Elections cost money.”
Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy told Seaway New he has not made up his mind on how to vote on the matter and Coun. Bernadette Clement was not available to comment.
