No byelection will be held in Ward 7.
The Windsor city council seat was left vacant by Percy Hatfield who was elected MPP for the Windsor-Tecumseh riding.
Council was split over whether to choose their future colleague by way of a byelection or by appointment.
Four delegates spoke passionately in favour of holding an election.
Ward resident Kieran McKenzie said a byelection is the best course of action, even with an estimated $90,000 cost to taxpayers and with the general election scheduled for a little more than a year away.
Councillor Bill Marra put forth a motion to fast track the process.
“I thought about the current environment we're in, and I thought about the 16,272 eligible voters in Ward 7, I thought it was reasonable," says Marra.
Marra’s plan would have seen a new council member in place by the end of October, instead of holding an election by December.
After much debate the proposal was defeated by a vote of 6-3.
Councillor Jo Anne Gignac put forward a motion to appoint a member of council – which was voted in favour by a majority of her colleagues.
“Appointments do not mean that democracy is being bypassed,” says Gignac.
Now the work gets underway to choose someone from a short list of potential candidates in 60 days.
