Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic 'very humbled' to be re-elected for 3rd term

Berry Vrbanovic says he's "very humbled" to have been re-elected for his third term as mayor in Kitchener and by a large margin.

With all polls reporting, Vrbanovic had 79.9 per cent of the vote. The results are unofficial until the city clerk verifies them.

Vrbanovic's closest rival was Val Neekman, who had under 10 per cent of the vote.

They were followed by:

• Manikantan Nair with 5.4 per cent of the vote.
• Rehman-Ullah Khan with three per cent of the vote.
• Milos Sokollu Posavljak with two per cent of the vote.

In an interview Monday night with CBC K-W, Vrbanovic said he feels grateful that the people of Kitchener supported him, but also has an "immense sense of responsibility that they're looking for myself and our council to lead this community through some great opportunities, but also some significant challenges that we're facing."

He said there are a number of issues council needs to tackle right away, including getting new councillors through orientation.

Then it will be the next budget and working with regional and other government partners on how to help people experiencing homelessness and who are living in encampments, he said.

"This is something that residents in our community believe, and I believe, we need to do better on," he said. "It's why I've been a strong advocate for that at the region."

He said the city and region need to ensure there are viable, interim options for people and permanent supportive housing that's built in partnership with the provincial and federal governments, which are responsible for capital and operating funds for that portfolio.

"We know the kinds of outcomes that residents can achieve will be the best when people have permanent housing over their heads," he said.

3 new councillors

Council also saw other changes because three current councillors were not seeking re-election: John Gazzola in Ward 3, Kelly Galloway-Sealock in Ward 5 and Sarah Marsh in Ward 10.

The councillors elected Monday night were:

• Ward 1: Incumbent Scott Davey with 68.6 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 2: Incumbent Dave Schnider with 82 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 3: Jason Deneault with 29.7 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 4: Incumbent Christine Michaud with 57.8 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 5: Ayo Owodunni with 31.5 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 6: Incumbent Paul Singh with 75 per cent.
• Ward 7: Incumbent Bil Ioannidis with 41.5 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 8: Incumbent Margaret Johnston with 88.3 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 9: Incumbent Debbie Chapman with 59.8 per cent of the vote.
• Ward 10: Aislinn Clancy with 36 per cent of the vote.

The new council will be sworn in at the Nov. 21 meeting.