Leamington Deputy Mayor Hilda McDonald isn't fazed sitting as the only woman on the new edition of Essex County Council.
Of the 34 candidates for mayor and deputy mayor across Essex County in the last election, there were just three women. Despite the disparity, McDonald doesn't want to get stuck along gender lines.
"I'm more of the opinion to have good solid representation at the table, people that are willing to speak and contribute, rather than worrying about gender," says McDonald.
As to why more women don't run for council positions, McDonald can't think of a good reason.
"I don't know what that is. If they're not well known enough? If they're not verbal enough? I'm not quite sure what the reason is, but that really is in the hands of the voter," says McDonald. "I'm hoping that I can set an example and perhaps a few years down the road we'll see more again."
The outgoing edition of county council had two women sitting as members in former Kingsville Deputy Mayor Tamara Stomp and former Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Cheryl Hardcastle.