Cam Guthrie re-elected for 2nd term as Guelph mayor

Cam Guthrie will be returning to the mayor’s chair in Guelph following a convincing victory Monday night over his only opponent, Aggie Mlynarz.

Unofficial results show Guthrie earned 22,203 votes compared to Mlyarnz’s 11,149.

“I promise, just like I did four years ago, to lead this city with passion, dedication and commitment,” Guthrie said in his victory speech.

Voter turnout in Guelph was projected to be about 37 per cent, compared to 43 per cent in 2014.

The incumbent mayor’s “A Stronger, Safer Community” platform included more investments in Guelph police and infrastructure.

Guthrie also promised to set aside money to fund the city’s share of a possible expansion for Guelph General Hospital.

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Other campaign promises from Guthrie included the elimination of single-use plastics at city-owned facilities and the return of online voting for the 2022 municipal election.

Guthrie said the first order is business is to get together with all of the councillors.

Mlynarz promises to hold Guthrie accountable

In her concession speech, Mlynarz told supporters that change doesn’t happen overnight, but said movements take time.

“We’ve started something today that I don’t think we should let go of,” Mlynarz said. “Because accountability shouldn’t just come up every four years.”

“I will spend the next four years holding [Guthrie] to account on the promises he made.”

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She said there are certain things that Guelph needs, including a new main branch of the Guelph Public Library and an updated parkland dedication bylaw.

Afterwards she told reporters she will be involved in city-level issues.

City council will see two new faces

The 10 incumbents in the election were overwhelmingly re-elected on Monday night.

They will join two new faces on council who were also elected — Rodrigo Goller in Ward 2 and Dominique O’Rourke in Ward 6.

Goller said he was quite shocked to learn that he had won.

“I actually was not betting on winning,” he said. “I really did not get too excited until the last of the polls came.”

The new council will meet for the first time in the third week of November.