By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent voters wanted change and they got it in a big way – electing Michael Bondy as mayor.
As of press time with all 32 polls reporting, the four-term councillor bested incumbent Darrin Canniff by more than 4,000 votes.
Supporters and family, including his wife Joanne and five children, gathered in the backyard to celebrate the win.
Bondy, who throughout his campaign suggested he is going to make a lot of big changes at city hall, said he plans on keeping his promises.
“I look forward to the next four years,” he told reporters. “I look forward to working with the new council and, buckle up, it’s going to be a fun four years.”
Bondy landed 15,818 votes, compared to two-term mayor Darrin Canniff who captured 11,501 ballots. Lauren Anderson was third with 4,983 votes, followed by Randy Hope with 2,818 votes, April Colby with 570 votes, Nelson Burn with 469 votes and Ryan Gow with 251.
A large part of the campaign’s success, Bondy said, was his ability to engage with voters.
“Effectively listening to the public and responding appropriately,” was key, said the mayor-elect. “I connected well with the public.”
Under his leadership, Bondy said two “immediate” priorities are restructuring within the municipality and dealing with the budget in a “completely different way.
“In the last 16 years of my terms, the budget has been very confusing to the public and frankly, confusing to council,” he said. “That’s the most important thing we do. That’s how we decide to spend money and we collect your money and we spend it. The other stuff is kind of window dressing.
“The budget is what counts and we’re going to do that differently,” he said, adding cuts will happen if inefficiencies are found.
“This is not going to make everybody happy, but this is not a job to make everybody happy. It’s a job to run things efficiently.”
Bondy said he was surprised by the “mudslinging” during the campaign but glad it didn’t impact the outcome.
“I expected it to be a little rough but not what I experienced and what my kids experienced over the last three months,” he said. “I felt it was inappropriate and unnecessary and I was disappointed by it but I didn’t respond to it much.”
However, he said he wants to “put that behind me.
“We’re going to move forward and not look backwards.”
As for Canniff, he noted that when 65 per cent of people want change, that’s what happened.
He added that he always wants the best for Chatham-Kent.
“I want people to rally behind the new council,” he said after conceding defeat. “We have a bright future here. We need to work together as a community. We are one of the best communities in the province.”
And while he said he was shocked, the outgoing mayor said “it is what it is.
“The people have spoken,” he said. “It’s going to take a little time to digest. I’m excited about the future of our community and I’m excited about the next chapter of my life.”
With Bondy at the helm, the rest of council will be comprised of Mark Authier and Melissa Harrigan (Ward 1); Anthony Ceccacci and Albert Pilbeam (Ward 2); Emery Huszka (Ward 3); Rhonda Jubenville (Ward 4); Jim Blake and Bill Wolsing (Ward 5); Alysson Storey and Brian Machado (Ward 6); Steve Kenney and Amy Finn (Ward 7); and Brock McGregor and Conor Allin (Ward 8).