A new Councillor has been appointed to fill the seat left vacant in Ward 1 – Trenton by the late Sally Freeman on Quinte West Council.
Leslie Roseblade was voted in by Council at today’s regular Council meeting.
Council officially declared the seat vacant today and voted for Roseblade to take over as Councillor at the Special Council Meeting scheduled for November 26.
The Ward 1 – Trenton seat became vacant after longtime Councillor Sally Freeman passed away following a prolonged illness.
Roseblade finished sixth in the 2022 municipal election, making her the next-in-line.
This is the second time this term that Council has had to appoint a new member due to a Councillor’s passing. In 2023, Council went through the same process for the Ward 1 – Sidney seat after the death of Councillor Terry Cassidy.
At that time, Council chose to appoint Karen Sharpe, bypassing the next-in-line candidate from the 2022 election, Allan Dewitt. Sharpe had previously served two terms as a Sidney Ward Councillor and had unsuccessfully run for Mayor in 2022.
During discussion of the current vacancy, Councillor Don Kuntze introduced a motion to hold a by-election for the seat, but the motion did not receive a seconder. He mentioned that Canada is a democratic country and that the voices of residents should be heard. Majority of Council said that the cost of running a by-election would not be feasible and they are respecting democracy by bringing in the person with the most votes.
A recorded vote was held to appoint Roseblade to Council, where all members of Council were in favour aside from Councillor Kuntze.
Roseblade says she is thankful for the opportunity and is honoured to fill the seat of the late Sally Freeman.
