Chris White is pleased to be re-elected as mayor of Guelph-Eramosa Township – but even more so by his margin of victory.
For election results click here.
“It’s a solid mandate,” White said referring to his more than two-to-one margin of victory. “Obviously I’m grateful to be re-elected.”
White received 2,361 (69%) of the total votes cast for mayor, while his opponent, current councillor John Scott, received 1,083 (31%).
“I’m very pleased it’s over – it’s a long campaign,” said White.
He called newly-elected Ward 4 councillor Mark Bouwmeester “a pretty respected and bright guy” and said Ward 3 councillor-elect Louise Marshall “ran a good campaign” and seems dedicated.
“All in all, I think the new council is poised to work well together,” said White.
John Scott did not return several phone calls from the Advertiser by press time.
Ward 3
Louise Marshall, who also could not be reached by deadline, defeated opponent Robbin Wood in a close race in Ward 4. Marshall received 611 votes (54%) while Wood garnered 524 (46%).
“It was a close race,” Wood said. “The people have chosen … and you have to honour what the people wish to have.”
Ward 4
In the Ward 4 race, Mark Bouwmeester defeated Doug Tripp by a margin of 712 votes (62%) to 445 (38%).
“I think the idea of a vision for the future and what we want the community to look like resonated with people,” said Bouwmeester of his key to success.
“I’m thrilled with the results and looking forward to working with the new council.”
Tripp said he was not necessarily surprised by the results, as he “didn’t know what to expect.”
He noted that missing two weeks of the campaign while on a “long ago planned” vacation likely hurt his chances, and he conceded people may also have viewed him as a one-issue candidate.
“It’s possible … certainly I’m identified in the community as the CRC (Concerned Residents Coalition) guy,” Tripp said, noting the group’s ongoing battle to fight a quarry planned near Rockwood.
Wards 1 and 2
The Ward 1 and Ward 2 seats were acclaimed and will again be occupied by councillors David Wolk and Corey Woods respectively.
