Cambridge elects Scott Hamilton as Ward 7 councillor

After a months long delay due to COVID-19, Cambridge has elected Scott Hamilton as the unofficial Cambridge Ward 7 councillor in the city’s byelection.

The seat had been left vacant after the passing of councillor Frank Monteiro, with the original byelection date of March 28^th postponed by the onset of COVID-19.

Unofficial results from the City of Cambridge show Scott Hamilton earned 392 votes (31.84%) from residents, with Connie Cody in a close second with 361 (29.33%). According to the city, the byelection saw 1232 ballots cast – translating to a turnout of 21.11% of eligible voters.

Speaking with 570 NEWS, Hamilton called the race both “intense and exhausting” for all candidates and their families, saying that he’s humbled to have earned the respect of Ward 7. He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a lot of people to slow down and think about what’s important to them – and that the extended campaign has taught him patience, resilience, and a sense of trust.

“You knock on someone’s door in February (…) and you talk to them about safety, security, traffic calming; will they remember that conversation months later? That was a huge question in my mind, and I guess it was partially answered tonight. I’m extremely grateful for that and humbled by that”.

Hamilton says he acknowledges that he has big shoes to fill in taking over for the late Councillor Frank Monteiro, who passed away after a battle with cancer in October of 2019.

“I know Frank Monteiro was highly respected – he really did a great job for the community…” said Hamilton. “The first thing is to recognize who’s shoes I’m filling, and to do my best to replicate the type of effect – the positive effect – that he had on his community”.

When asked about his first priorities as Ward 7 councillor, Hamilton spoke on the importance of both the smaller issues that make daily life safe and secure for residents of the ward, as well as the larger scale issues affecting Cambridge like homelessness and opioid addiction.

“Those are the issues where council really has to band together as a team to work collaboratively, to forge partnerships and really put the welfare and the good of the city and all its residents ahead of anything that’s come in the past…” said Hamilton. “I’m really excited to work with council – to learn from them, hear their suggestions, their advice (…) and really to work for Ward 7 and Cambridge to make this a better place to live…”

In an official post on the City of Cambridge website, Mayor McGarry has welcomed Hamilton to the horseshoe, writing that she knows he’ll “hit the ground running, provide dedicated service to the residents of Ward 7, and be a passionate advocate for the Cambridge community”.

Official results of the Ward 7 byelection are expected to be released by the City Clerk on Tuesday, October 6^th