No byelection in Kitchener as councillors opt to appoint runner-up to fill vacant council seat
Stephanie Stretch came in 2nd but it was a close race
Kitchener city councillors have opted to appoint the runner-up in the 2022 municipal election to fill the empty Ward 10 council seat.
The runner-up in the race was Stephanie Stretch, who had 115 fewer votes than winner Aislinn Clancy.
The council seat is now open after Clancy resigned following her win in the November provincial byelection. Clancy is now the MPP for Kitchener Centre.
City council declared the Ward 10 seat vacant on Dec. 14. They had two options to fill the seat:
- Appoint someone to the council seat.
- Hold a byelection.
To appoint someone, councillors also had options on how to do that. They could:
- Appoint the runner up in the 2022 municipal election.
- Call for people to apply for the seat and then appoint someone from that list.
- Directly appoint an eligible individual without a public process.
Council was told the cost of a byelection could be close to $100,000. Appointing the runner-up will not cost the city anything.
Now, the clerk's office will reach out to Stretch to see if she's interested in taking on the role and, if so, whether she meets all the criteria required under the Municipal Act.
CBC K-W has reached out to Stretch for comment.