Elizabeth Clarke appointed to Regional Council

Waterloo Region council voted last night to appoint Elizabeth Carke to fill the vacant Kitchener council seat, rather than hold a byelection. 

The seat was left vacant in June after the sudden death of councillor Wayne Wetlauffer.

Clarke was runner-up in the October 2014 municipal election, earning 13.03 per cent of the vote, less than one point behind Geoff Lorentz, who was elected. 

• Regional chair recommends appointing Elizabeth Clarke to council

• Elizabeth Clarke may not run if byelection called

• Late Wayne Wettlaufer's seat to be filled within 3 months

Regional Chair Ken Seiling wrote a report to council that recommended Clarke be appointed in order to avoid a byelection that by his estimates would cost between $150,000 and $275,000. 

The recommendation attracted controversy, including from high profile critics, such as the late Wayne Wettlaufer's brother Larry and University of Waterloo political science professor Peter Woolstencroft. 

Both argued that a byelection would have been the best way to decide who should fill the vacant council seat.