Voters in Norfolk County have decided to “turn the page” and “start a new chapter,” Mayor-elect Amy Martin says.
Martin was elected mayor of Norfolk on Monday unseating incumbent Kristal Chopp, who served one-term in the county’s top elected position.
“I’m grateful, I’m appreciative and I’m ready to get work,” Martin said after the election results were announced. “Norfolk County didn’t have a lot of options over the past four years.
“This was an opportunity for them to take back accountability and take back Norfolk County and that’s what they did.”
Martin received 8,199 votes or 42.7 per cent of the ballots cast easily outdistancing Chopp, who received 5,127 votes or 26.3 per cent of the ballots cast. Bill Culver (3,926 votes/20.24 per cent) finished third followed by Ian Rabbitts (1,638/8.44 per cent) and David Bate (508/2.62 per cent).
There were 53,713 eligible voters in Norfolk and there were 19,512 votes cast for a voter turnout of 36.33 per cent
Martin said her first priority is setting a new tone for council, the corporation and all of Norfolk County.
“Team work has got to be a big part of it,” Martin said. “We’re turning the page and starting a new chapter here in Norfolk County.
“That’s something I can deliver.”
Martin was elected to represent Ward 6 in 2018 and announced her candidacy for mayor early in the campaign. She said she wanted to take her passion for community service to a whole new level.
Voters across the county appeared satisfied with the work of incumbents who were all returned to office.
Tom Masschaele (Ward 1), Linda Vandendriessche (Ward 2), Mike Columbus (Ward 3), Chris Van Paassen (Ward 4), and Kim Huffman (Ward 7) were all re-elected.
Still, there will be some new faces around the council table when the new council takes office.
Ward 5 will be represented by Alan Duthie and Doug Brunton while Ward 6 will be represented by Adam Veri.
In the school board elections, Elizabeth Whiton and Elaine Thomas were elected to represent residents in Wards 1,2,4,5,6 on the Grand Erie District School Board. Results for trustees to represent Brant County and Norfolk Wards 3 and 7 were not immediately known on Monday night.
Carol Luciani and Dennis Blake were elected as trustees to the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
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