South Bruce Peninsula council is appointing Paul Deacon to fill the town's vacant councillor seat.
Council held a special meeting on the afternoon of January 16 where it heard short pitches from 11 of the 12 applicants (Christine Thomas was absent).
Then, council held a vote by ballot to determine which of the candidates would fill the seat.
William Klingenberg, Ann Marie Hadcock, and Deacon all received votes, but none had the three required to get a majority.
After another round of voting in which no councillors changed their minds, council was informed that after a final round, it would draw a name from a hat to determine the next member.
In the final round, Councillor Kathy Durst switched her vote to Deacon, and he was sworn into office shortly after.
"I am honoured to have been appointed to the vacant position of Councillor," he said. "I appreciate the confidence Council has in my abilities to serve our community. My years of experience in business and community service have provided me with a unique perspective, and I am eager to bring that perspective to the Council. I am committed to serving the residents of South Bruce Peninsula and working collaboratively to address the needs of our community."
The former president of the local BIA and the Wiarton and District Chamber, Deacon was also the past owner of the local Home Hardware and has chaired various sub-committees, including the Wiarton Willie Festival, Canada Day Festival, and the Santa Claus Parade.
Council had until January 20 to fill the vacancy after declaring the opening on November 21, 2023.