London City Councillors thought they'd have a difficult task of deciding how to fill a seat after a resignation on Tuesday afternoon.
It turns out they'll need to fill two.
Ward 6 Councillor Phil Squire, who has had that role since 2014, announced at Tuesday's Corporate Services Committee meeting that he is also resigning from council to serve on the provincial Consent and Capacity Board, a provincial tribunal that weighs in on disputes about the care of patients who are not able to speak for themselves.
"It's a difficult choice but a choice I'm proud of," Squire said in brief remarks about his resignation on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm extremely honoured to be assuming this position and continue to work in the area I'm most passionate about which is adjudication in matters of people with mental disabilities."
Several other councillors wished Squire well, and then voted to declare his seat vacant. It was clear that most of Squire's colleagues were surprised by the resignation.
Squire said he only found out he couldn't hold both roles on Friday afternoon.
That leaves council with two seats to fill.
One vacated by Squire and the other by London West MP-elect Arielle Kayabaga, in Ward 13.
Council options include appointing somebody from the community or having a by-election. A report from City Staff said a such a vote couldn't be held until January 31.
Dozens of community members have written letters asking 2018 second place finisher John Fyfe-Millar take over the role until the end of the term, which is in October of 2022.
Fyfe-Millar was 139 votes behind Kayabaga in that ranked ballot race.
In Ward 6, heritage activist Mike Bloxam finished 2,222 votes behind Squire in the previous election. They were the only two candidates on the ballot.
"If council wants to fill these vacancies using the second place finishers from the 2018 results, then yes, I would accept the appointment," Bloxam told LondonNewsToday.com.
He did say he was in support of a by-election, rather than an appointment. He would also commit to not running for re-election in 2022, if appointed.
The Corporate Services Committee voted 3-2 in favour of appointing Fyfe-Millar to the Ward 13 role later in the afternoon. Mayor Ed Holder, Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan and Councillor Michael van Holst were in favour, councillors Maureen Cassidy and Elizabeth Peloza were opposed.
That appointment will have to be approved by full council on October 26th.
Meantime, the decision on the Ward 6 seat was also deferred to that council meeting.
Bloxam spoke to 519 Podcast host Craig Needles about the now-open seat.
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