Chris Gibb wins Amherstburg mayoral race with 3,928 votes

Residents of Amherstburg will see a complete turnover at the top of local government after Chris Gibb won the mayoral election on Monday. Unofficial results indicate Gibb received 3,928 votes, securing his position as the town's next mayor. He defeated Bill Fryer, who garnered 3,284 votes, and incumbent Michael Prue, who finished with 1,704 votes. The outcome marks a shift in leadership for the community, as Gibb, who served as deputy mayor during the previous term, assumes the mayor's seat from Prue, who had led the town since 2018.

Gibb took over the role of mayor after a campaign that emphasized continuity with recent planning efforts. In a statement on Monday night, he described the victory as a humbling and overwhelming moment. He expressed a clear intent to begin working immediately with the newly elected council. Gibb stated that he views the mayoral role as belonging to all residents, regardless of how they voted. He plans to collaborate with the new deputy mayor to move the town forward based on the priorities of the new council.

Prue, who served as mayor for the last eight years, held a smaller gathering at the Artisan Grill to mark the end of his tenure. He indicated that he plans to retire and travel with his wife. Prue also mentioned plans to read books, cook, and go fishing with a friend in the spring. While wishing the new council the best, he expressed some confusion regarding the political alignment of the incoming leadership. He noted that residents seemed to want a change in direction, which led to the election of officials with differing views.

Prue explained that he ran for a third term because some residents asked him to stay. He said he campaigned on reducing taxes and continuing what he viewed as positive developments from the past four years. He acknowledged that despite these efforts, the electorate chose a different path for the town's future.

The election also resulted in a new deputy mayor. Bill Petruniak won the position with 5,146 votes, outpacing Linden Crain, who received 3,590 votes. The council table will include a mix of returning and new members. Incumbents Molly Allaire and Peter Courtney were re-elected with 5,226 and 3,813 votes, respectively. Three new members joined the council: Jen DeLuca with 5,597 votes, Keith Boussey with 2,896 votes, and Wes Ewer with 3,370 votes.

Certified results for the Amherstburg election are expected to be released on Tuesday, October 27.