When councillors in Essex sit down Monday night to fill their vacancy in Ward 3, they'll choose from a list of 12 candidates.
It's holding a special meeting to fill the spot left empty when Steve Bjorkman was appointed deputy mayor last month.
Bjorkman was moved into that seat when Richard Meloche, the former deputy mayor, was appointed to serve out the rest of his term as mayor the previous week.
Council began its proverbial game of musical chairs in January when then-Mayor Larry Snively resigned following his guilty plea on charges under the Elections Act. The Ontario Provincial Police launched an investigation in October 2018 after allegations Snively had incorrectly filled out 32 proxy ballots for residents who were not eligible to vote in the municipal election that year.
Some of the candidates who have put their names forward are no stranger to municipal politics in Essex. The list includes former Mayor Ron McDermott, former councillor Bill Caixiero, and former councillor Ron Rogers who finished second to Snively in 2018.
The winning candidate will represent residents in Ward 3 alongside councillor Chris Vander Doelen until the next election on October 24.
