Disero takes top spot in NOTL race
New mayor earned more than 50 per cent of votes
Even before the last ballot was counted, a crowd of a few hundred Niagaraon-the-Lake residents burst into applause as their new lord mayor — or is that lady mayoress? — entered the town’s community centre.
After six months of campaigning and four years of representing constituents as a town councillor, Betty Disero earned 4,135 votes — more than 50 per cent of the 8,349 ballots cast Monday night in a municipality with 14,213 eligible voters.
It was an upset for incumbent Pat Darte, who claimed 2.732 votes —
33.04 per cent.
“It’s exciting,” Disero said, while celebrating at the community centre with her husband Dan.
Thanking residents, and her family, friends and supporters, Disero said she is “overwhelmed by the support that we have received.”
She said the coming term of office, with a mostly new council, “is about finishing unfinished business.”
“We have to come together with an official plan, we need master plans that get us to that vision,” said Disero, who served as a city councillor in Toronto for 18 years before she moved to NOTL.
“We need to come together in one united voice … It’s so important that we do that because that’s the only way we’re going to be able to come forward with one vision.”
John Wiens is the lone town councillor to be re-elected.
He will be joined by Clare Cameron, Erin Wiens, Gary Burroughs, Wendy Cheropita, Stuart McCormick, Allan Bisback and Norm Arsenault.
Disero hopes to draw from her many years of experience as a Toronto city councillor in the years to come.
“Some of the challenge that are hitting us now … have traditionally been challenges for larger municipalities, like transportation. I think the experience I bring will have a positive impact in dealing with those challenges,” she said.
Asked about becoming the first woman to hold the town’s top political post, Disero said “it’s 2018, and hopefully there will be many more.”
Despite the loss, Darte still considers himself a winner.
“I told everybody, tonight I’m going to win. Either I’m going to win the election or I’m going to win my freedom,” he quipped.
He said he plans to focus his time on his businesses.
Darte was also impressed with Daniel Turner who ran against him.
“He’s an up and comer,” Darte said, referring the 23-year-old political newcomer who claimed 1,401 votes.