Richard Stewart will occupy the mayor's chair in Coquitlam for another four years after winning Saturday's civic election in a landslide, almost tripling the vote count of his closes challenger, longtime politician Lou Sekora.
The 55-year-old Stewart defeated 84-year-old Sekora, taking 15,002 votes (69.56%) to Sekora's 5,705 (26.45%).
"It's a great result," Stewart said. "We are very pleased."
Sekora, who was mayor of Coquitlam in the 1980s and 1990s, had been serving as a councillor since 2005, following a brief stint in Ottawa as a Liberal member of Parliament.
While the two politicians often clashed on council and the campaign trail, even jousting through their campaign ads, Stewart acknowledged his opponent's contribution to the city, saying Sekora was always a passionate advocate for the municipality.
"He has done a tremendous amount," Stewart said. "No one can question the kind of passion he brought. He believes completely in Coquitlam."
Stewart added that he hoped Sekora would continue to work with the city, particularly with the organization of the 2016 B.C. Seniors Games and the Coquitlam's 125th birthday in 2016, the same year the Evergreen Line is to begin service.
While Coquitlam council is losing two old faces - besides Sekora, veteran Coun. Neal Nicholson, a Protect Coquitlam candidate, was defeated - there will be two new faces on city council following Saturday's election.
Teri Towner and Dennis Marsden were both elected to office.
Stewart told The Tri-City News that both will bring new perspectives to council while Nicholson's contribution will be missed.
"I have a great respect for Neal," he said. "He is very thoughtful and really paid attention to the details."
Coun. Craig Hodge topped the polls with 13,495 votes, followed by Coun. Terry O'Neil with 11,712. Coun. Brent Asmundson came in third with 11,036, while Marsden took 10,372 and Towner received 10,223 votes.
Protect Coquitlam/Coquitlam Citizens Association member Coun. Chris Wilson was sixth in the council race with 10,134 votes while long-time Coun. Mae Reid was re-elected with 9,659 votes. Coun. Bonita Zarrillo, another member of the Protect Coquitlam slate, took the eighth and final spot on council with 7,960 votes.
Stewart said that his first task once council business resumes will be to pull together a fractious group following a particularly acrimonious campaign.
As members of Protect Coquitlam/CCA, Zarrillo and Wilson were often criticized by council colleagues for bringing slate politics to city hall.
Rallying the group will be a difficult task, Stewart said.
"I have to figure out how to bring some disparate views and perspectives into the same room so we can work together," he said. "I want to have a council that strives to work for consensus."
THE RESULTS
(winners in bold type)
MAYOR
Richard Stewart: 15,002 (69.56%)
Lou Sekora: 5,705 (26.45%)
Mark Mahovlich: 859 (3.98%)
COUNCIL
Craig Hodge: 13,495 (10.30%)
Terry O'Neill: 11,712 (8.94%)
Brent Asmundson 11,036 (8.42%)
Dennis Marsden 10,372 (7.91%)
Teri Towner: 10,223 (7.80%)
Chris Wilson (CCA): 10,134 (7.73%)
Mae Reid: 9,659 (7.37%)
Bonita Zarrillo (CCA): 7,960 (6.07%)
Justin Kim: 7,698 (5.87%)
Neal Nicholson (CCA): 7,284 (5.56%)
Ben Craig: 6,977 (5.32%)
Andy Shen: 6,066 (4.63%)
Jack Trumley (CCA): 5,759 (4.39%)
Massimo Mandarino: 5,342 (4.08%)
Shobha Nair (CCA): 5,281 (4.03%)
Moe Kopahi: 2,053 (1.57%)
@GMcKennaTC
