Essex Mayor Bondy Wins 5,288 Votes

Sherry Bondy has won re-election as mayor of Essex.

Unofficial results from Monday's vote show Bondy receiving 5,288 ballots against 2,206 for challenger Trevor Menard.

The margin gives Bondy a 3,082-vote lead over her opponent. This is her second term in the mayor's chair after first winning the position in 2022.

Bondy previously represented Ward 4 as a councillor from 2010 to 2022. She told reporters she is ready to address the concerns raised during the campaign.

"I’m thrilled that the voters, you know, chose me to lead the municipality again," Bondy said.

She attributed the victory to the council's performance over the previous four years rather than just the final weeks of campaigning.

"Campaigns are not built on the last six weeks before the election, they’re built on the four years," Bondy stated. "People are seeing that this term of council, we’ve worked hard. We’ve pinched pennies, we’ve invested in infrastructure, we’ve worked to communicate, and all of that hard work over the last four years paid off tonight."

The new council will include both experienced members and new faces. Bondy noted that the group achieves gender parity, a first for Essex County.

"We have gender parity, which is it’s kind of unheard of in Essex County, so I’m excited to see fresh voices," Bondy said. "We’re going to hit the ground running."

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley will return to the council. Ward 1 will be represented by Katie McGuire-Blais and Joe Garon. Kim Verbeek will serve Ward 2.

Bill Baker and Ron Rogers won the Ward 3 seats, while Rachael Mills captured the Ward 4 seat. Incumbent Ward 3 councillor Jason Matyi and Ward 4 councillor Rodney Hammond were unseated in the vote.