All signs are pointing to third place candidate from the 2022 municipal election in Chatham-Kent replacing the outgoing councillor in Ward 3.
On Monday night, Councill will vote on declaring Steve Pinsonneault's East Kent seat vacant and then asking Moréna McDonald to fill the vacancy on Council.
If it's approved, she will be sworn in as soon as possible. McDonald told CK News Today on Monday she's still interested in the seat and is "definitely up for it", if that’s what Council decides.
McDonald has already said she will accept the position, but if she has a change of heart, a by-election for Ward 3 will be ordered.
Administration estimates the cost of a by-election would be approximately $75,000 and it would take an estimated 75-90 days to hold it.
Pinsonneault ran in the provincial by-election on May 2, 2024, and won the MPP's seat for the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
"There is approximately two and a half years remaining for the 2022-2026 term of office. Time is of the essence in filling the vacancy in order to allow Ward 3 appropriate representation," said Chatham-Kent's Director of Municipal Governance Judy Smith in her report going before Council Monday evening.
There are certain criteria to be met to make a candidate eligible to serve on Council, but that is not the case for the process of a Council appointment. Smith said legislation does not set out a process for making the appointment. It is up to the council to determine how they will decide who to appoint.
Different approaches include: appointing the candidate who was runner up in the regular election; inviting interested persons to apply for the position; or offering the appointment to a member of the community.
