A runner-up in the last municipal election will be invited to assume the vacant seat in the ward of East Kent.
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Council voted in favor of a staff recommendation Monday to ask the third-place candidate — Moréna McDonald — to serve in the role and that if she accepts, she will be sworn in as soon as possible.
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The council seat was vacated by former councilor and MPP-elect Steve Pinsonneault, the Progressive Conservative candidate, who won the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex provincial byelection May 2.
Council also had to officially declare the seat vacant.
The top two finishers in the East Kent race in the 2022 municipal election, Pinsonneault and John Wright, were elected to the ward’s two council seats.
Last week, McDonald confirmed she’s willing to accept the role.
Wright entered an unsuccessful amendment Monday to seek a byelection, noting the people of East Kent should have their say.
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Others at the table said McDonald had a strong finish and that an appointment would save money.
The cost to hold a byelection in East Kent would’ve been approximately $75,000, the staff report said.
The Municipal Act doesn’t specify an appointment process, leaving it up to council to determine.
McDonald is a marketing and communications manager and event planner. She previously worked as a radio news anchor and reporter.
Her community experience includes co-chairing the Chatham-Kent to the Power of Young People Advisory Group, and serving on the Chatham-Kent community development advisory committee.
Upon her swearing in, McDonald will hold the seat until the current council term ends on Nov. 14, 2026.
A councilor since 2006, Pinsonneault ran in the provincial election to replace former PC MPP and cabinet minister Monte McNaughton, who left politics last fall to take a job in the private sector.
This story will be updated.
EAST KENT (WARD 3) RESULTS
Steve Pinsonneault*: 2,049 (37.47%)
John Wright*: 1,727 (31.58%)
Morena McDonald: 1,161 (21.23%)
Matt Lamarche: 315 (5.76%)
Martin Fisher: 216 (3.95%)
Total votes: 5,468
*Elected to council
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