Leanne Caron Wins Guelph Mayoral Race in Monday Municipal Election
Leanne Caron secured the mayor’s seat in Guelph’s municipal election on Monday, finishing ahead of five other candidates with 54 per cent of the vote. Unofficial results show Caron captured 23,781 votes, outpacing second-place finisher Ken Yee Chew, who secured 15,046 votes, or 34.1 per cent. Caron replaces outgoing mayor Cam Guthrie, who chose not to seek re-election after serving three terms as mayor and a single term as a Ward 4 councillor.
Grassroots Campaign and Affordability Focus Drive Victory
Addressing roughly 100 supporters at Sonic Hall as results came in, Caron framed her win as a mandate from the community. “The voters came out and they gave a clear message, I’m ready to deliver. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves,” Caron told GuelphToday. She added that affordability is the primary concern for residents. Caron, who was first elected to council in 2006, centered her campaign on three main pillars: delivering on affordability, creating an open and collaborative city hall, and building a more livable city. This was truly a grassroots, local people focused campaign,
Caron told supporters who gathered at her watch party, adding, It’s about the next generation and leaving behind a city we can be proud of.
Ward 5 Spring Town Hall Reminder – https://t.co/7Y2XqdWYh8
Voter Turnout and Unofficial Municipal Results
Voter participation rose significantly compared to the previous municipal election in 2022, which saw 28,586 ballots cast for the mayoral race. This year, 44,068 ballots included a vote for mayor out of 119,441 registered eligible voters. Advance polls held between October 10 and 18 recorded 9,973 votes. Behind Caron and Chew, other mayoral candidates included John Edward Krusky with 2,246 votes, Ryan Munier with 1,309 votes, Rajee Sinha with 673 votes, and Evaristo Ramas Jr. with 492 votes.
Upcoming City Hall Swearing-In and Council Lineup
Elected city councillors for the upcoming four-year term include Dan Gibson and Mustafa Zuberi in Ward 1, Rodrigo Goller and Kim Frey in Ward 2, Phil Allt and Marty Williams in Ward 3, Linda Busutti and Brendan Clark in Ward 4, Cathy Downer and Danny Lui in Ward 5, and Rebecca Adam and Luke Devos in Ward 6. Ward 1 councillor Erin Caton, Ward 2 councillor Carly Klassen, and Ward 4 councillor Christine Billings did not seek re-election. Caron, who maintained a conflict of interest due to her employment with the University of Guelph, stated she plans to resign from that position on Tuesday. The newly elected mayor and council members are scheduled to be officially sworn in during a ceremony at city hall on November 16.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Guelph Election
When will the election results become official?
Vote counts remain unofficial while the city clerk’s department finalizes the tally, with formal certification expected within a couple of days following the election.
Who did Caron succeed as mayor?
Caron succeeds Cam Guthrie, who stepped down after holding the mayor’s office for three terms.
How many advance votes were cast?
A total of 9,973 votes were cast during nine days of advance polls held between October 10 and 18.
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