Latest news with #FabioCostante
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Byelection called for Windsor's ward 2 after councillor leaves seat
People in west Windsor will vote this fall for a new councillor in a byelection to replace Fabio Costante, who resigned after being hired as CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. The CBC's Chris Ensing reports.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Windsor to hold byelection for vacant Ward 2 seat this fall
Empty Ward 2 seat at Windsor city council in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Windsor's Ward 2 residents will return to the polls this fall to choose their new representative on city council. Council voted Monday to hold a byelection to fill the west-end seat left vacant by the resignation of Fabio Costante, who stepped down last month to become CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. The decision came after brief but pointed debate around the council table — with the majority in favour of letting voters decide, despite the cost. 'You're talking about a billion-dollar budget,' said Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis, who made the motion to opt for by-election over appointment. '$150,000 is a small investment to make in democracy.' The byelection is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 — a price tag that drew concern from Ward 8's Gary Kaschak, the only councillor to vote against the motion. 'We're one year away from this next election,' Kaschak said. 'I hear a lot of outcry in LaSalle right now of us spending a couple hundred thousand dollars on a one-year by-election.' Mayor Drew Dilkens supported the move, arguing that appointing someone would give that person an unfair head start in the next general election. 'Let the public choose who they want to represent them,' said Dilkens. 'I think you can never go wrong doing that.' Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie echoed that, calling the by-election an important step in democratic accountability. 'The person who's going to represent those folks should go door to door to door,' he said. 'This race will sort of be a precursor for what we'll see in the larger general election.' Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie was absent from Monday's meeting. The remaining seven councillors and the mayor all supported the by-election. Among those already signaling their intention to run is Sam Romano, who finished second in Ward 2 in the 2022 election with 11 per cent of the vote. Speaking to media after the decision, Romano — a retired banker with 40 years of experience — said he's ready to get back on the campaign trail. 'I'm available. I'm retired. I can jump into it right away,' he said. 'I'm on my bike all the time riding around — and then stopping at McDonald's for a quick ice cream.' Romano previously said he hoped to be appointed to the vacant seat, but welcomed the opportunity to earn it at the ballot box. The nomination period for candidates will open July 21 and close at 2 p.m. on September 12. Election Day is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27. Whoever wins will serve the remainder of the current term — with Ontario's next municipal election already set for October 2026.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
How should council fill the vacant seat in Ward 2?
Members of city council will decide next week how they want to fill a vacant seat in Windsor's west end. An administration report going before the July 14 meeting first requires that the Ward 2 seat held by former councillor Fabio Costante be officially declared vacant. Once that happens, council will consider two options to fill the seat: appoint a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed or pass a bylaw requiring a byelection to be held to fill the vacancy. Costante submitted his resignation on June 22 after accepting a job as chief executive officer of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. He was first elected to city council in 2018 and then re-elected in 2022. If council approves a byelection to fill the seat, the nomination period would commence Monday, July 21, and end on Friday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. — election day would be held on Monday, Oct. 27. A byelection to fill the vacant seat is estimated to cost approximately $150,000 to $200,000 based on actual costs from the 2022 Municipal Election, according to the report to council. The costs include the payment for voting stations, voting equipment and technology, advertising, hiring election officials, and voter notices. The last time council appointed someone to fill a vacant seat was on Oct. 2, 1984, when Howard McCurdy was elected to a federal parliament seat and council appointed Mike Patrick to the vacant Ward 3 seat for the remainder of the three-year term ending Nov. 30, 1985. Ward 2 is bounded by the Town of LaSalle on the west, the Detroit River on the north, Wards 3 and 10 on the east, and Tecumseh Road and Huron Church Road on the south and has a total population of 22,826 (based on 2021 Census information) persons living in the ward. The next municipal election is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. — Rusty Thomson/AM800 News
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
No return to council for Brian Masse
The race to replace Fabio Costante on city council won't include Brian Masse. The former Member of Parliament and city councillor, says he is not interested in the vacant Ward 2 seat. Masse held that very seat before becoming the MP in Windsor West. He went on to represent the riding for 23 years before being defeated in the most recent federal election by Harb Gill. Masse said Costante served the community very well. Costante announced his resignation for the ward on Monday, after being named the new CEO of the Windsor-Essex Community Housing Corporation.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ward 2 runner-up interested in vacant council seat
Entrance sign into Historic Sandwich Towne, featuring the emblem, "The West Side is the Best Side." (Chris Campbell/CTV Windsor) The runner-up in the last municipal election in Windsor's Ward 2 wants the vacant seat. Speaking on AM800's Mornings with Mike and Meg, Sam Romano said he would say 'yes' if council decides to appoint the runner-up to the position. He said if council calls for a byelection, he will probably run. Romano was one of four candidates running in Ward 2 during the 2022 election. He finished second behind Fabio Costante and received 11 per cent of the vote. Romano said he's interested in the seat. 'I had retired from Royal Bank after a 40-year career and I thought it was a great opportunity to jump into that role and see what we could do to help the west end,' said Romano. He said he went to elementary and secondary school in the west end and attended the University of Windsor. 'I think I can add some value to council especially when it comes to the west end,' he said. 'I grew up in the west end. I'm living in the house my parents bought when they came from Italy in the west end. So, I'm entrenched in the west end. On my bike all the time riding around. I've gone door to door during the last election. I think we need to keep the momentum up that Fabio started.' Costante, who announced his resignation on Monday, received 74 per cent of the vote in 2022. Chris Soda finished third with just under eight per cent of the vote and Myriam Faraj finished fourth with just over seven per cent of the vote. Two administration reports will go before city council on July 14, outlining the process and steps to replace Costante. - Written by Rob Hindi/AM800 News.
