Wrapping up Pelham’s 2018 Municipal and School Board Election

The campaigning is over. The ballots tallied. The winners determined.

As of Tuesday, October 23, when the Town Clerk certified the results, the 2018 municipal and school board elections were officially complete. Thank you to everyone who put their name on a ballot, doing so requires a strong spirit of community dedication.

Here’s what we know.

Pelham’s next Council.

Mayor: Marvin Junkin (56% of the vote)
Ward 1 Councillors: Mike Ciolfi (28%) and Marianne Stewart (26%)
Ward 2 Councillors: Ron Kore (39%) and John Wink (22%)
Ward 3 Councillors: Lisa Haun (33%) and Robert (Bob) Hildebrandt (25%)

We also know that voter turnout for this year’s election was 50.44%, up from 44.33% in 2014. This percentage year’s turnout equates to 7,195 ballots casts – there were no declined ballots in this year’s election. There are 14,264 registered electors in Pelham.

Ward 2, with the second most electors (4,898) had the most numbers of votes cast (2,688). Ward 3, with the most electors (4,911) had the second most votes cast (2,509). And Ward 1, with the fewest electors, (4,455) cast the fewest votes (1,998)

Those are the numbers, so what’s next for the newly elected Council?

Whether a Mayor or Councillor has served on a Council previously, they will still receive the same orientation and training that every newly elected Council does. This will include things such as parliamentary procedure, getting caught up on any ongoing negotiations or agreements, and learning about the ins and outs of what each department at the Town of Pelham does for the community.

Orientation will take place after Council is sworn in, taking their oath of office, on December 3, 2018, with the first meeting of Council on December 17, 2018.

What we don’t know

Where the inaugural meeting will take place and what it will look like. The Mayor-elect will determine the details and the public informed when information becomes available. The inaugural meeting, traditionally, welcomes the new Council, swears them in, and the Mayor gives an inaugural address.

We also don’t know what the values, goals, objectives, and priorities for the new Council are – at least not officially; we know what issues candidates campaigned on, but the components of the strategic plan for this Council will be determined in the New Year, merging their ideas and visions as one for the community.

Who the Deputy Mayor will be. Pelham Council will determine the process that they choose their Deputy Mayor. The last term of Council was an eight-month appointment for each Councillor on a rotating basis.

Getting started

The Town website will be updated with new Councillor information once Council takes office. Whether or not members of Council are on social media is an individual decision and Council operates these accounts as individuals; they are not directly affiliated with the Town.

Staff will work with Council as they settle in to determine the direction of the Town in the coming term. Congratulations to the new Council and thank you again to everyone who put their name on the ballot.

Final note

This information deals solely with Pelham Town Council, but of course Regional Council and School Board Trustees were also elected on Oct. 22.

The Regional Councillor representative for Pelham is Diana Huson.

The School Board Trustees serving Pelham are:
District School Board of Niagara (Public): Nancy Beamer
Niagara Catholic District School Board (Separate): Leanne Prince
French Language Public School Board: Veronique Emery (acclaimed)
French Language Separate School Board: Jo-Anne Thibodeau