Meet the 7 new faces around Ottawa's council table - Action News
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OttawaELECTION 2018

Meet the 7 new faces around Ottawa's council table

Jim Watson sailed to a third term as mayor of Ottawa, but his council will have seven new faces, including more women.

4 incumbents stepped aside, 3 were voted out

Glen Gower, Shawn Menard and Carol Anne Meehan beat incumbent councillors in Stittsville, Capital and Gloucester-South Nepean wards to take seats on Ottawa city council. (Submitted)

Jim Watson sailed to a third consecutive term as mayor of Ottawa, but his council will have seven new faces, including more women.

Four races were wide open, but three of the new councillorsare getting to city hallby way of major upsets that left David Chernushenko, Shad Qadri and Michael Qaqish out of jobs.

Carol Anne Meehancampaigned on promises to improve transportation forher communities of Riverside South, Findlay Creek and part of Barrhaven by way of wider roads and better transit.

The former CTV anchortook 42.5 per cent of the vote to incumbentMichael Qaqish's38.7 per cent in Gloucester-South Nepean.

"The new faces around council I think it's going to be exciting," she said.

"Yes, it will be challenging, of course, but I think I'm up to that."

Capital ward was a close 4-way race as results came in, but incumbentDavid Chernushenkofinally settled intothird place with 23.4 per cent of the vote,ceding his seat to Shawn Menard, who took 28.1 per cent.

Christine McAllistercame second with 25.2 per cent.

Menard, who's ending his term as a school trustee,promised to immediately start looking at how to helppeople who are less fortunateand give them a voice at city hall.

In Stittsville,Glen Gowerpulled a surprise win over Shad Qadri, who hadbeen the area's councillor since 2006.

It wasdecisive, with Gowertaking 57.9 per cent of the 10,157 votesto Qadri's42.1 per cent.

"Getting engagement from all over the community young and old, people who've lived here for years andpeople who are new to the community that was really key to the win tonight," saidGower, who works with community associations and in communications.

Open races bring fresh faces

Four seats were always going to see turnover this election, as incumbent councillorsBob Monette, Marianne Wilkinson, Mark Taylor and Jody Miticbowed out.

Innes was a competitive race fought among three women who had worked behind the scenes at city hall, as well as a fourth candidate who spent decades in the armed forces.

Laura Dudas, a city employee in communications and long-time president of the Blackburn Community Association, came out on top in the results, with 41.4 per cent of the vote and a 1,680 votemargin over second-place Donna Leith-Gudbransonat 28.3 per cent.

In Orlans, Matt Luloffpushed through a tight, crowded field the ballot was so long with a record 17 names it had to be printed on legal-sized paper to fill the shoes of long-time, popularpolitician Monette.

The Afghan veteran and federal Liberal staffertook 23.8 per cent of the vote, which is a respectable mandate given the sheer number of candidates could have led to the vote splitting several ways.

Catherine Kitts came second with 22 per cent, followed by Rick Bdard with 18.4 per cent.

School trustee Theresa Kavanagh took Bay, a ward that was onceheld by her husband Alex Cullen, by a healthy 55.2 per cent.

Her closest competitor, Don Dransfield, had 17.8 per cent of the vote, after a race in which his MP wife Anita Vandenbeld came under scrutinyfor sending robocalls on his behalf.

KanataNorth electedJenna Sudds, who wasincumbent Wilkinson's choice to replace her.

Sudds built up the business improvement area that includes the Kanatatech park.

Sudds' seat was cemented with 46.7 per cent of the vote compared to Matt Muirhead'ssecond place finish at 32 per cent.

Sudds, Kavanagh and the others mean that the next Ottawa city council will haveseven female members, up from four this past term.

As for voter turnout, 42 per cent of Ottawa residents marked their ballots, which is slightly higher than 39.9 per cent in 2014, but lower than 44 per cent in 2010.

Jenna Sudds will take the Kanata North seat vacated by Marianne Wilkinson. Matthew Luloff won a 17-way race to succeed Bob Monette in Orleans. Theresa Kavanagh replaces Mark Taylor in Bay ward, and Laura Dudas replaces Jody Mitic in Innes. (Submitted, and Matthew Kupfer/CBC)