Windsor to hold byelection for vacant Ward 2 seat this fall
Windsor's Ward 2 residents will return to the polls this fall to choose their new representative on city council.
Council voted Monday to hold a byelection to fill the west-end seat left vacant by the resignation of Fabio Costante, who stepped down last month to become CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation.
The decision came after brief but pointed debate around the council table — with the majority in favour of letting voters decide, despite the cost.
'You're talking about a billion-dollar budget,' said Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis, who made the motion to opt for by-election over appointment.
'$150,000 is a small investment to make in democracy.'
The byelection is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 — a price tag that drew concern from Ward 8's Gary Kaschak, the only councillor to vote against the motion.
'We're one year away from this next election,' Kaschak said.
'I hear a lot of outcry in LaSalle right now of us spending a couple hundred thousand dollars on a one-year by-election.'
Mayor Drew Dilkens supported the move, arguing that appointing someone would give that person an unfair head start in the next general election.
'Let the public choose who they want to represent them,' said Dilkens.
'I think you can never go wrong doing that.'
Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie echoed that, calling the by-election an important step in democratic accountability.
'The person who's going to represent those folks should go door to door to door,' he said.
'This race will sort of be a precursor for what we'll see in the larger general election.'
Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie was absent from Monday's meeting.
The remaining seven councillors and the mayor all supported the by-election.
Among those already signaling their intention to run is Sam Romano, who finished second in Ward 2 in the 2022 election with 11 per cent of the vote.
Speaking to media after the decision, Romano — a retired banker with 40 years of experience — said he's ready to get back on the campaign trail.
'I'm available. I'm retired. I can jump into it right away,' he said.
'I'm on my bike all the time riding around — and then stopping at McDonald's for a quick ice cream.'
Romano previously said he hoped to be appointed to the vacant seat, but welcomed the opportunity to earn it at the ballot box.
The nomination period for candidates will open July 21 and close at 2 p.m. on September 12. Election Day is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27.
Whoever wins will serve the remainder of the current term — with Ontario's next municipal election already set for October 2026.
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