A large turnover on Chatham-Kent council was guaranteed when seven councillors decided not to see re-election, but some upsets pushed that number to nine.
When the votes were tallied in Chatham-Kent’s municipal election two incumbents – Frank Vercouteren in South Kent Ward 2 and Bryon Fluker in West Kent Ward 1 – were defeated.
Vercouteren finished fourth behind incumbent Trevor Thompson and newcomers Anthony Ceccacci and Mary Clare Latimer.
Fluker finished behind fellow incumbent Mark Authier and Melissa Harrigan, who is one of seven women will make up the council.
Chatham residents filled the three vacant seats in Ward 6 with female candidates including Marjorie Crew, who made a return to council after losing to Randy Hope in the 2014 mayor’s race. She is joined by Amy Finn and Karen Kirkwood-Whyte.
Jamie McGrail filled the vacant seat in North Kent Ward 4 and incumbent Carmen McGregor was re-elected in Wallaceburg.
Crew said, “I’m excited to be back. I’ve got a lot of things that I was working on.
“And things that have come up over the four years that I’ve been gone,” she added.
Among her roles in the meantime include being co-chair of the new animal shelter committee.
Crew believes her experience away from the table will make her a better councillor when she returns to it.
“You pick yourself up. Dust yourself off,” she said.
With many new faces on council this time around, Crew said she’s excited for the challenge.
“There’s nothing wrong with change,” she said.
Finn, who retired earlier this year from a 30-year career with the Chatham-Kent Police Service, admits to having trouble sleeping as the election drew near.
“This has been nerve wracking,” she said. I have not slept all night, I’m running on a sugar high.”
Finn earned a reputation as a compassionate cop and was credited for spending time to help kids get back on the right track.
She plans to bring that same attitude to her new role as councillor.
“I feel good,” she said. “I had a lot of support when I was out there. People they know they can talk to me.
“I’m going to keep it up and hopefully, I can help some people out,” Finn added.
The other newcomers to council include John Wright in East Kent and Aaron Hall in Wallaceburg.
Those re-elected to council include Brock McGregor, Michael Bondy and Doug Sulman in Chatham, Steve Pinsonneault in East Kent and Joe Faas in North Kent.
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