Residents of Ward 3 in the Town of Essex will have to wait a little longer to find out who will take a vacant council seat.
By a 6-1 vote Monday night, Essex Town Council agreed to hold off on a decision on the seat until next Monday's regular meeting. The motion was introduced by Councillor Sherry Bondy, who based it on the fact that a strong selection of candidates had applied and councillors would benefit by having more time to make a decision.
Councillor Chris Vander Doelen, the other Ward 3 councillor, was the lone "no" vote on the motion, expressing concerns about a lack of representation in Ward 3 ahead of a key information session on home rentals.
A total of 12 candidates had applied for the vacancy by last week's deadline, and nine of them had agreed to give a short presentation to the council.
The decision will not involve former Councillor Ron Rogers or former Mayor Ron McDermott. Both had told councillors in their presentations Monday night that they were withdrawing their names from consideration.
The remaining ten candidates, presented in the order their applications were received, are former Councillor Bill Caixiero, former Deputy Mayor Percy Dufour, frequent volunteer Jason Matyi, retired electrician Eldon Earl Brush, Colchester resident Brad Allard, Essex Committee of Adjustment member Sherry Ducedre, retired WECHU specialist Richard Kokovai, tradesman Mac Goslin, hospitality specialist Rodney Hammond, and former automotive engineer Randy MacLeod.
The Ward 3 vacancy happened after Steve Bjorkman was appointed deputy mayor, taking a position that was left open by the naming of Richard Meloche as mayor. Meloche succeeded Larry Snively, who resigned after pleading guilty to violating Ontario election law.
The person named to the Ward 3 vacancy will serve in that position until the October municipal election.
