THUNDER BAY -- Surrounded almost entirely by incumbents who retained their seats Monday, Shelby Ch’ng stands out as a fresh face in council chambers.
While former at-large councillor Frank Pullia won the seat vacated by mayoral incumbent Ken Boshcoff, Northwood rookie Ch’ng was the only contender to successfully take on an experienced opponent.
“I’m shocked,” said Ch’ng in council chambers Monday evening after learning she would be replacing Mark Bentz as Northwood’s councillor.
“It’s unbelievable and I am truly humbled and honoured to be here and to have this opportunity in my city that I love so much.”
The 31-year-old entrepreneur handedly beat Bentz with 2,157 votes over the incumbent’s 1,639.
She attributes her win to a desire for change, specifically bridging the generational gap around the council table.
“They want to close the gender gap. They want to close the age gap on council and I’m the candidate. I’m the person who stepped forward and said ‘yes, I’ll do it’ and here I am,’ said Ch’ng.
Despite incumbents easily reclaiming their seats in most other wards, it came down to the wire for the Westfort Race, with Joe Virdiramo edging out Frank Scarcello by 45 votes.
“It was really nerve-wracking and a finger-biting thing. However, I did come ahead and I thank all those people who supported me,” said Virdiramo shortly after the victory was made official.
“I would have wished I had a higher number. However, the people spoke and put me back in and I know that they won’t be disappointed with the work I’m going to be doing in the next four years.”
Virdiramo believes his support for the proposed event centre may have been the cause of the tight race since many people in Westfort voiced their opposition.
He also acknowledged his running mates Scarcello, Beatrice Metzler and John Radl for their campaigns.
“They worked hard and I congratulate them for doing that and unfortunately, I am the winner,” said Virdiramo.
In other ward races, Paul Pugh won the McKellar seat for a second term with 52 per cent of the vote and said he was honoured people felt he deserved to be re-elected.
“I intend to go into it to pursue the goals I put forward in particular for McKellar ward which have to do with decent jobs, poverty related issues and of course infrastructure particularly having to do with floods,” he said.
Neebing was reclaimed by Linda Rydholm with 58 per cent of the votes over challengers Geoff Abthorpe and Austin Haner.
Rydholm, who has been the Neebing representative on council for 14 years, said the people in her ward know her and she feels the vote reflects they believe she represents them well.
“I always go door-to door. I go partly of course to present myself but also to learn from the residents,” she said, adding she’s heard that residents are concerned about high taxes and that big projects are taking priority over spending at the neighbourhood level.
Andrew Foulds easily won the Current River seat for a third time, claiming nearly 65 per cent of the vote.
“I am humbled by the level of confidence that the residents of Current River have in me, I’m humbled by the amount of trust they put in me and I certainly don’t take that for granted,” Foulds said.
Brian McKinnon won the Red River Ward for a third term with 3,341 votes, besting David George Noonan, who pulled 2,072 votes.
McKinnon said he’s humbled and has nothing but thanks for the people of the ward for giving him an opportunity to continue doing the work he’s been doing with council.
“The people have given me their confidence and said ‘OK, do it again,’” he said, adding he feels strongly council has been going in the right direction and making good decisions as a strong team.
McIntyre Ward was won by incumbent Trevor Giertuga with almost 43 per cent of the vote.
