Bortolin easily retains seat
Ward 3 Coun. Rino Bortolin easily retained his seat Monday, handily defeating his two challengers. Bortolin, first elected in 2014 after an unsuccessful attempt in 2010, beat out Helmi Charif and Steve Palenkas.
“Great,” said Bortolin when asked how he felt as early results gave him a lead of 71 to 19 per cent over Charif, his closest challenger. Bortolin said the support shows the issues he has focused on have resonated with voters. “People have been able to see what I’ve been doing these last four years and their faith in me has been confirmed,” the 45-year-old father of three said. “I think when you can take 60, 70, 80 per cent of the vote people are happy with some of the changes you have been able to implement.
“I think you’re seeing the issues that we’ve been focusing on these last four years have been resonating. It’s clear.”
Charif was part of a profanitylaced dust-up with incumbent Bortolin at a federal Liberal Party meeting in March. Bortolin later apologized.
Bortolin has been a frequent critic of many of Mayor Drew Dilkens’ pet projects.
He is also frequently on the losing side of 6-4 votes. Bortolin was critical of Dilkens’ plan to restore a vintage streetcar. He used $3,500 from his ward funds in collaboration with the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association to install alley lights in the downtown core.