Incumbent mayors in Exeter and Kincardine were unseated in two of the most surprising results of Monday night. Ken Craig did not win a second term as Kincardine mayor, falling to former reeve and Bruce MPP Barb Fisher. Craig secured 2,001 votes to Fisher’s 2,283. Voter turnout was the highest in the region at 49 per cent.. In South Huron, George Finch was seeking a third term as mayor but was unseated by longtime South Huron councillor Ted Oke. Finch received 1,516 votes to Oke’s 2,033. Martin Ritsma was also unseated in Stratford, finishing third in the mayoral race. Robert Ritz won with 4,246 votes, while Ritsma received 2,899. In one of the closest mayoral races of the night, Mitch Wright defeated Trevor Seip in the Municipality of North Huron, 863 votes to 842. Forty-two per cent of North Huron voters cast a ballot. RESULTS: Here’s what voters decided in Huron and Bruce counties In the Municipality of Bluewater, which includes Bayfield, Paul Klopp won back the mayor’s seat, securing 2,415 votes to Tyler Hessel’s 1,073. Alvin McLellan is the new mayor of the Municipality of Huron East, securing 1,883 votes. Con Melady finished second with 526 votes. Only 33 per cent of Huron East voters cast a ballot. Evan Hickey is the new mayor of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, receiving 2,322 votes to Ben Van Egmond’s 558. In Huron-Kinloss, Don Murray retained the mayor’s chair with 2,175 votes. Shawn Plante received 909 votes. Luke Charbonneau won a third term as mayor of Saugeen Shores, defeating two first-time candidates. Charbonneau received 3,983 votes, ahead of Brian Putnam with 2,753 and Jeff James with 1,155. In Owen Sound, Richard Thomas will be the new mayor after a convincing victory over a large field of candidates.
