WINDSOR, Ont. -- Now that MP-elect Irek Kusmierczyk is Ottawa-bound, Windsor's council will need to decide how to fill his seat in Ward 7, only one year into the term.
Kusmierczyk will represent the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh after defeating NDP incumbent Cheryl Hardcastle in Monday's federal election.
Council has two options to fill the seat -- either appoint a replacement or hold a by-election.
Windsor's mayor and a few councillors have already indicated they're in favour of holding a by-election.
According to city officials, that course of action would cost roughly $100,000 and likely wouldn't happen until late March or early April.
A report presenting the options will come before council at its next meeting on Nov. 4, at which point the federal election results are expected to be certified.
"The public will have an opportunity to provide input at the council meeting where the report with the two options comes forward," says Steve Vlachodimos, the city's deputy clerk.
Kusmierczyk was elected to city council in a 2013 by-election to replace Percy Hatfield, who ran successfully for the NDP provincially for Windsor-Tecumseh.
