The night after his win in Monday night's byelection, city councillor Jeewen Gill said the weight of his new responsibility is starting to settle in.
"They've given me the opportunity to represent them," said Gill of Ward 7 residents. "I feel proud and also, very excited."
Out of 12 candidates, Gill won 19.7 per cent of total ballots. Angelo Marignani who came in second with 17 per cent of the vote, and 15.1 per cent of voters cast a ballot in favour of community activist, Greg Lemay.
Turnout Monday night was 27.75 per cent. In the last regular municipal election in 2018, it was approximately 39 per cent.
Gill said he plans to start working on the ward's traffic concerns immediately. His other priorities include improving healthcare for the ward's senior population by supporting the new acute care hospital, basement flooding, and safety in the community.
"Yes. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to learn the new process and other stuff you have to manage, but I will start raising those concerns," he pledged.
The new councillor will start orientation soon.
Gill has run in numerous provincial campaigns in the past, but credits his grassroots work for the win. Gill was one of the few candidates that went door to door in the ward once the region was placed in stage two of the province's pandemic recovery process.
"If you are serious about the job, then you should reach out to the people and listen to their concerns," he explained, saying everyone knows the big issues, but the smaller concerns are just as important.
Gill will replace Irek Kusmierczyk on city council after Kusmierczyk was elected the Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh in the federal election almost one year ago.
There are two years left in the term. The next municipal election is in 2022.
