DILKENS RE-ELECTED WITH STRONG MAJORITY
Cites delivering on promises as reason for return to mayor’s chair
Re-elected by a convincing majority — almost 60 per cent of the vote — Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed thanks to voters Monday night for giving him the opportunity to continue improving Windsor.
“I truly believe our best days are yet to come,” Dilkens said as final poll results at around 10 p.m. confirmed a clear victory over former chamber of commerce president Matt Marchand. Dilkens had 59.4 per cent of votes at press time, while Marchand garnered 35.5 per cent, with three other candidates — Ernie Lamont, Thomas Hensel and Frank Dyck — collecting 2.1, 1.5 and 1.5 respectively. Dilkens said he was “very, very happy,” with the results, after a hard-worked campaign where he told the history of his administration’s accomplishments.
“I always say if a politician tells you what they’re going to do and they actually deliver, what more can you ask of them — and we did that,” he said. “We delivered.” Marchand said it was a difficult task trying to unseat an incumbent. “We knew that from the get-go.”
But he felt it was important putting forward issues and possible solutions that he now hopes the mayor and new council will look at. The need for an auditor general, basement flooding problems and challenges in the downtown were all big issues for voters, he said, particularly downtown. “Now, it’s our job to support the mayor and new council. It’s also our job to hold them accountable,” said Marchand, who added that his plans are pretty simple at this point — taking a break after a tough campaign.
Dilkens recognized that he will have new members of council, though the final makeup was unclear at press time. He said his first job will be to “build some consensus” with new members of council. “That’s fundamental,” he said. “We’re going to work together to move Windsor forward.” Addressing the disputes in the former council, which often resulted in 7-4 votes and which now could swing the other way depending on results in various wards, he said council must work as Team Windsor.
“It’s not about opposing the mayor. It’s not about opposing other councillors.
“It’s about improving the quality of life for Windsorites.”
He said as mayor, he represents everyone. Speaking to all, whether they live in Riverside, South Windsor, Walkerville or any other city neighbourhood, he said: “I’ve got your back, I’ve got your back.” During his campaign, Dilkens pledged to widen E.C. Row Expressway and make it a world-class roadway. His “Moving Windsor Forward” plan pledged a continuation of spending on roads and sewers to “eradicate basement flooding,” and modernize the city ’s road and cycling networks, while holding the line on taxes.
In the last two months of the campaign, rising concerns about downtown prompted Dilkens to hold several meetings with city officials and social agencies to try to find solutions to alarming increases in the crime rate, homelessness and addiction. He made a $4-million campaign pledge with eight proposals including installing 100 digital cameras for $1.5 million. And he also made announcements as mayor to hire 24 more officers and establish new policies and police units to tackle the problems. Then in the final two weeks of the campaign, Dilkens was front and centre at several job-creating announcements: German auto parts company Kauth choosing Windsor for its North American headquarters, employing at least 350; and Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert’s Quicken Loans setting up a Windsor operation in the former Fish Market and Loop building, employing as many as 100.
In his victory speech he also talked about installing sewers and building roads, fire halls, swimming pools and affordable housing, as well as improving transit. “All of this, we did together,” he told the crowd at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. “It’s an exciting time in our city and I’m excited to continue as your mayor.”
Last election in 2014, Dilkens won with 55.3 per cent of the vote in a field of 12 candidates. He was followed by John Millson with 27.2 per cent and Larry Horwitz with 12.5 per cent.
Voter turnout this election was 34.7 per cent, down from 2014 when turnout was 37.5 per cent of eligible voters.