Tuesday October 28, 2014 – 10am
Posted Oct 28, 2014 02:02:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
10:00- Seiling victorious again
Ken Seiling, Re-elected Chair of the Region of Waterloo
It was the most aggressive contest for regional chair Ken Seiling has had to fight in 17 years – but in the end he emerged victorious over light rail transit opponent Jay Aissa. With Seiling’s re-election it’s almost certain the Region of Waterloo’s LRT project is going ahead after a campaign many framed as a referendum on the biggest infrastructure project in the region’s history. “Some people tried to position this vote as something else,” Seiling said in regional council chambers after his victory was secured. “Obviously I was re-elected and what I’m seeing is the members of council running for re-election are winning their seats as well. “That’s a very strong indication that we’re going to move ahead with the project and things will carry on.” By the end of this term, Seiling will boast 33 years leading the government that receives the highest share of property taxes and controls most major services. He was first elected in 1997, after previously being nominated to the job by fellow councillors. His closest competitor and maybe the biggest threat to the light rail project was in Waterloo business owner Aissa. But with 235 of 273 polls reporting, Seiling had a comfortable margin of 59,461 votes to 23,698 for Aissa.
10:10- Cambridge keeps Craig for a 5th term
Doug Craig, Re-elected Mayor of Cambridge
Doug Craig remains steadfast in Cambridge, where the 68-year-old former grade school teacher won an unprecedented fifth straight term on Monday night. “I think people are looking at stability to some extent,” said Craig, who easily topped six challengers which included past opponents Linda Whetham and Andrew Johnson. “I think it’s a point of bringing stability in this time when other mayors are leaving and when there’s a real race at the regional level.” Other veteran council candidates gathered with the mayor in the back lounge of a restaurant across from City Hall to swipe and re-swipe their mobile devices as the online results came in.
10:15- Kitchener’s new mayor
Berry Vrbanovic, Newly elected Mayor of the City of Kitchener
Voters in Kitchener opted for experience over change Monday, choosing 20-year council veteran Berry Vrbanovic as their new mayor, and re-electing every incumbent on council. There were two new faces elected to council, however, as Vrbanovic and his main rival Dan Glenn-Graham, both vacated their respective council seats to run for mayor. After 20 years of representing the Stanley Park neighbourhood on council, Vrbanovic handily won the mayor’s chair Monday night, more than doubling the votes of his closest rival, Ward 10 councillor Glenn-Graham. Vrbanovic vowed to keep his promises of inflation-level tax increases, and a platform based on strong neighbourhoods and economic growth.
10:20- Waterloo’s new mayor
Dave Jaworsky, Newly elected Mayor of the City of Waterloo
Political newcomer Dave Jaworsky was elected mayor in his first political campaign Monday, pledging to make Waterloo “the best small city in North America” under his watch. Jaworsky, a former BlackBerry executive who’s worked to promote Waterloo as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, promised to change the way city hall does business. His message of re-energizing Waterloo resonated with voters, who elected him with 14,103 votes or about 55 per cent of all ballots cast. Erika Traub, a criminal lawyer who campaigned on the need for a culture change at city hall, came second in the race for mayor with over 24 per cent of the vote. “I think it came down to hard work,” said Jaworsky, who gave credit to his campaign team and supporters who packed the ballroom at the Waterloo Inn. “I knocked on 20,000 doors. That made a difference.
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