There has been a huge shakeup at the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA).
Members have elected an entirely new board of directors, with the exception of Mary Anne Ducharme of Pearce, Ducharme and Associates Family Law. However, Ducharme has decided to resign, citing she didn't want to be part of the new direction.
An emotional Larry Horwitz, the longtime board chair who was not re-elected, held a news conference on Tuesday afternoon to say goodbye. A frazzled Horwitz said when he took over as board chair 15 years ago, it was the downtown that needed change and not the board.
"We paid and invested in safe initiatives, including needle collection throughout the downtown core and needle boxes throughout the downtown core -- that's change," said Horwitz.
Horwitz listed several successful projects and initiatives over the last 15 years, including moving university and college students to the core, a new farmers market on Maiden Lane, Fiesta Latina, the Ouellette Car Cruise, and a new alley lighting program.
The DWBIA election was held December 5, 6 and 7. The new board of directors takes over January 24. The DWBIA has 650 members.
Rino Bortolin, downtown councillor and DWBIA board member, said there was a big appetite for change this election and it wasn't anything done wrong by the outgoing board.
"We're turning the page to the next chapter and there's nothing wrong with change. Nobody should be ashamed of the work they've done or [feel] like they're being booted out. This is how elections work," said Bortolin.
Bortolin said the election was done properly and ballots were counted by accounting firm KPMG, despite complaints that it was disorganized and confusing.
"It ran smoothly and everything went by the books. This is probably the most people we've seen vote in a BIA election," Bortolin added.
