Chatham-Kent Council has made a decision to appoint the runner-up from East Kent for the vacant ward seat. This decision was made during a council meeting on Tuesday evening.
The seat became vacant after the sudden resignation of former councillor, John Smith, due to personal reasons. As per the Municipal Act, council has the authority to fill a vacant seat by either appointing a runner-up from the previous election or holding a by-election.
After careful consideration and discussion, council voted in favor of appointing the runner-up from East Kent, Jane Doe, to fill the vacant seat. Doe was the second-highest vote-getter in the 2018 municipal election, receiving a total of 2,500 votes.
Mayor John Brown stated that Doe’s experience and knowledge of the community made her a strong candidate for the position. He also mentioned that appointing the runner-up would save the municipality time and money compared to holding a by-election.
Doe, who was present at the council meeting, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve her community. She stated that she is committed to working hard and representing the residents of East Kent to the best of her abilities.
The appointment of Doe was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some residents expressed their support for the decision, citing Doe’s qualifications and previous campaign promises. However, others raised concerns about the fairness of appointing a runner-up instead of holding a by-election.
Despite the differing opinions, council stands by their decision and believes that Doe will be a valuable addition to the team.
The official swearing-in ceremony for Jane Doe will take place at the next council meeting on Monday. She will serve as the councillor for East Kent until the next municipal election in 2022.
This decision marks an important step in filling the vacant ward seat and ensuring that the voices of the residents of East Kent are represented in council.
