Jeni Lambert says she never imagined Norfolk County’s Ward 4 election would end in an exact tie — and believes voters should get another say if a recount does not separate her and incumbent Chris Van Paassen.
Both candidates received 858 votes, or 40.36 per cent, while Drew Hemsley finished with 410 votes, or 19.29 per cent.
Lambert was following the results online while away on a family vacation booked before she decided to run.
She said the race remained close throughout election night.
At one point, she saw herself ahead by four votes and began to feel she could breathe easier.
Then the final numbers appeared.
A recount will be held to determine whether the candidates remain tied.
Under Ontario’s municipal election rules, a tied result requires a recount within 15 days of the Clerk’s declaration.
If the recount still leaves candidates tied for a seat they cannot both hold, the Clerk must select the winner by lot — a random draw.
Lambert disagrees with that approach and believes the legislation should be reconsidered.
She also pointed to the 410 votes cast for Hemsley, saying those voters should have an opportunity to choose between the remaining candidates.
Lambert said she initially expected a recount to happen the day after the election.
At the time of the interview, she said correspondence she had received suggested answers might not come any time soon.
Our newsroom also reached out to Chris Van Paassen, who declined an interview but said he would wait for the process to unfold, noting that the Clerk is following the rules set out in the Municipal Elections Act.
