Irek Kusmierczyk has to win the Liberal nomination first and then fight a winning campaign, but if you were wondering what happens if he succeeds in Windsor-Tecumseh next month, you are not alone.
Windsor's manager of records, elections and coordinator of freedom of information and privacy, Terri Knight-Lepain, told BlackburnNews.com city council has two options if the seat in Ward 7 becomes vacant. They could appoint someone to fill it, or hold a by-election.
A third option, leaving the seat empty, is not an option because of the timing of the federal vote.
"Our next [municipal] election isn't until 2022," she explained. "So, that option doesn't actually apply should a vacancy be created this fall."
That option is only available under the Municipal Elections Act if the vacancy comes up after March 31 in the year of the municipal election.
If city councillors decide to appoint a councillor, Knight-Lepain said who they get to fill the seat is up to them.
"It is entirely up to the council who they may appoint. They may ask for expressions of interest. They may look at past candidates," she said. "There is no defined process."
Polling station in Windsor-Tecumseh.
(Photo by Maureen Revait)
The third option, holding a by-election, might be the most likely given it is something with which Windsor has some experience. In 2002, there was a by-election in Ward 2 when Brian Masse was first elected federally in Windsor West. The latest was in 2013 when Percy Hatfield left municipal politics to represent Windsor-Tecumseh at Queen's Park. That was when Irek Kusmiercyzk was first elected.
The city does not cost out by-elections, but Knight-Lepain estimated the last municipal election cost between $900,000 and $1 million. Divided by ten for each ward, she believed the cost would be between $90,000 and $100,000.
Ward 7 is one of the most populous wards in Windsor and has among the highest voter turnouts, said Knight-Lepain.
It is all speculative unless Kusmiercyzk wins in Windsor-Tecumseh October 21, but if he is successful, she said the process for a by-election would move quickly.
Kusmiercyzk could give council formal notice that he would vacate his seat at the meeting immediately following the election, October 28. If council passed a bylaw that night to hold a vote, nominations would be open until December 27, and the by-election would be on February 11.
Council may not pass the bylaw that night, and if it does not, the election would be held no later than April 19.
As of Friday, the latest projection by 338 Canada said the riding is leaning NDP, but the race could be a tight one. The NDP had the support of 36.5 per cent of decided voters. The Conservatives had 30.5 per cent support, and the Liberals 28.2 per cent.
Also running in Windsor-Tecumseh is incumbent Cheryl Hardcastle with the NDP, Dan Burr with the People's Party of Canada, Green Party candidate Giovanni Abati, and Leo Demarce with the Conservatives.
