McCabe wins mayor’s seat in Wellington North

WELLINGTON NORTH – Current Ward 4 councillor Steve McCabe is taking the mayor’s seat in Wellington North after beating out political newcomer Kelly Dimick.

McCabe, a first-time mayoral candidate who was first elected to council in 2014, won by a margin of 1,890 votes, garnering 2,886 votes – almost 75% of the total cast.

Dimick, a 16-year resident of the township, received 996 votes.

There was a 38.5% turnout in the vote-by-mail election this year, according to township data. Of 10,171 eligible voters in Wellington North, 3,920 people cast ballots.

Local turnout in the 2022 municipal election was 36.7%, according to the township, with 3,142 of 8,545 eligible voters casting ballots. Two wards had acclaimed candidates.

“I’m happy with the mandate that the good people of Wellington North have given me,” McCabe told the Advertiser while celebrating his win with friends, family and colleagues at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kenilworth on election night.

“It’s going to sink in probably a little later,” he said, adding, “this is what I campaigned for and I think the results speak for themselves.”

Current Mayor Andy Lennox, who held the seat for three terms, announced in May he wouldn’t seek re-election.

After serving three terms and gaining the trust of constituents and township staff, McCabe said now is the right time. He filed his papers to run on May 1.

“I’ve been basically kind of campaigning for 12 years,” he said.

“I love this township … all I want to do is make this a better place than it already is, and at the municipal level I think that’s where we can make the most difference in people’s lives, and that’s what I aim to do.”

The mayor’s seat is “uncharted territory,” McCabe said, adding he’ll be relying on township staff to guide him.

“There’s more that a mayor obviously does than a councillor; there’s more information that the mayor takes on, and I think it’s going to be a firehose for a little while,” he said.

“I’m going to have to learn very quickly – I’m up for the task,” he added.

As mayor, McCabe also gets an automatic seat on Wellington County council, providing him a vote in upper-tier government decisions affecting the entire county and its seven municipalities.

“I will still fight and bring Wellington North’s issues to Wellington County,” he said. 

“I guarantee that I will not be quiet when it comes to Wellington North … plan on me being vocal.”

Dimick absorbed the loss to McCabe surrounded by some township ward candidates and family members, around 30 people in total, at the Mount Forest Curling Club on Monday night. 

“I wish him luck,” Dimick said.

She entered the race days before the nomination window closed in August to give McCabe a challenger.

“I really felt that the position shouldn’t be handed to someone on a silver platter,” she said.

Much of her campaign focused on social media, but Dimick admitted she “definitely could have done things differently” by getting more signs and knocking on more doors.

Her first campaign experience was positive overall, she said, aside from online “keyboard jockeying.”

Dimick envisioned herself as an approachable mayor who would listen to taxpayers.

“I don’t think that’s been done for a long time,” she said.

Ward 1

Political newcomer Michelle McInnis defeated Ward 1 incumbent Penny Renken by 143 votes. McInnis received 451 votes to Renken’s 308. Remaining candidate Wayne Allen received 235 votes.

“I’m feeling very excited about the future,” McInnis said of her win.

“I feel like the next four years, specifically in Wellington North, (there) are going to be some critical decisions that will shape this township for generations to come,” she said, noting the cost of infrastructure and the closure of the outdoor pool in Mount Forest. A township resident since 2021, McInnis said it was the pool that got her into local politics.

“Some of the decisions that have been made I don’t think are representative of the constituents,” she said.

Renken served one term on council, from 2022-26. The Advertiser was unable to reach her for comment.

Ward 2

In a three-way race for Ward 2, incumbent Sherry Burke received 567 votes, defeating challengers Laura Aston, who received 464 votes, and Adriana Cea, with 112.

The Advertiser was unable to reach Burke for comment.

Ward 3

Political first-timer James Craig defeated incumbent Lisa Hern by 103 votes in a three-way race. Craig received 275 votes; Hern received 172. Remaining challenger Erin Kiers received 38 votes.

“People were really interested in my perspectives on things,” Craig said by phone. “I’m just really glad that the ward support that with their vote.”

Craig said his background as a farmer, father and banker provides him a “well-rounded vision.”

“[I’m] willing to raise questions and ideas that haven’t been raised in the past four years, questions around how council engages with our electorate, as well as a willingness to be very active in the ward,” he said.

Hern served two full terms plus one partial term after she was voted into office in a 2015 byelection. The Advertiser was unable to reach Hern for comment.

Ward 4

Troy Lawlor, also a political newcomer, won McCabe’s former ward handily with 1,008 votes. Opponents Alex Zantout and Serge Karwal received 217 and 32 votes, respectively.

Lawlor, who was at McCabe’s gathering on Monday night, said he’s “very excited” about the outcome.

“I have deep roots in the community. I grew up here, we raised our kids here, we’re raising grandchildren in the area, so I want to make sure that the foundation that’s there right now continues to grow and to build and is there for our grandchildren,” he said.

Lawlor said his experience in the navy, fire department and as an operations manager will help inform a “common sense approach” to problem solving.

“I’m looking forward to getting down to work and seeing what we can do here.” 

Parting words

Outgoing mayor Lennox left incoming councillors with some parting advice at McCabe’s gathering.

“Take your time as much as you can, ask lots of questions and you’ll figure it out. Staff will help [decide] what you can and can’t do,” he said.

Not one to pass up a colourful turn of phrase, he added, “Sometimes you have to take a little water in your wine.”