Windsor City Hall is seen on May 24, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Windsor City Hall is seen on May 24, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

New municipal government faces take charge this week

Municipal government across Windsor-Essex will look different starting this week.

Following the October 22 elections, those chosen to serve as mayors, deputy mayors and councillors will take their seats in their respective chambers as the new municipal terms get underway, starting Monday night.

The largest inaugural event locally will, of course, be in Windsor, as Mayor Drew Dilkens and the new-look city council will take the oath for a four-year term.

Dilkens will start his second term as mayor, and he will have four new colleagues to work with on council. Gary Kaschak is the new face in Ward 8, taking the seat vacated by Bill Marra, who has retired from city politics. The other three faces are Fabio Costante in Ward 2, Kieran McKenzie in Ward 9 and Jim Morrison in Ward 10, all of whom defeated incumbents.

The inaugural meeting takes place at the St. Clair Chrysler Theatre at 7 p.m. sharp. Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo will begin his second term Monday. But when he takes the dais at the Libro Centre, he will have a completely new council. Former councillor Leo Meloche is promoted to deputy mayor, having beaten councillor Diane Pouget by just four votes. The new councillors are Peter Courtney, Donald McArthur, Michael Prue, Marc Renaud and Patricia Simone.

Essex begins their term Monday night at their chambers in the Essex County Building. The new mayor is former councillor Larry Snively, who succeeds the retired Ron McDermott. New faces include the two in Ward 1, Joe Garon and Morley Bowman; Ward 2's Kim Verbeek, and Ward 3's Chris Vander Doelen, joined by previous incumbent Steve Bjorkman. Sherry Bondy in Ward 4 is the other returning incumbent along with Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche.

At Kingsville council chambers Monday, Mayor Nelson Santos and Deputy Mayor Gord Queen will begin new terms. There will be two new councillors, Kimberly DeYoung and Laura Lucier.

In Lakeshore, Tom Bain will again take the mayor's chair for another four-year term. Former Ward 4 councillor Tracey Bailey is the new deputy mayor with John Kerr succeeding her in Ward 4. Kelsey Santarossa is the new councillor in Ward 3, while Kirk Walstedt takes over Ward 5.

LaSalle will swear in a new mayor, as Marc Bondy succeeds the retired Ken Antaya. Former councillor Crystal Meloche has been acclaimed as the new deputy mayor. Two new councillors will take oath in council chambers Monday, Mark Carrick and Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo.

A big change at the top is effective Monday night in Leamington, with long-time mayor John Paterson turning the mayor's chain over to Hilda MacDonald. Larry Verbeke gets a promotion to deputy mayor, with rookie councillor Paul Tiessen taking his vacant seat.

There are also changes taking effect on Pelee Island Monday. Raymond Durocher succeeds Rick Masse as mayor. David Allan Dawson is the new deputy mayor. Councillors David DeLillis and Dayne Malloch return, serving with newcomer Sherri Smith-Ouellette.

Tecumseh's inaugural meeting will take place at the Ciociaro Club on Tuesday at 7 p.m. With all incumbents returning, there will be one new face on town council, Rick Tonial in Ward 3.

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