Quinte West City Council voted to appoint Leslie Roseblade to the vacant council seat in Ward 1 – Trenton.
The seat was declared vacant at council’s meeting on Wednesday, with council voting to have Roseblade assume the role of councillor as of the November 26 special council meeting.
The Ward 1 – Trenton seat was declared vacant following the passing of longtime councillor Sally Freeman from a lengthy illness.
Roseblade came in sixth in the 2022 municipal election, making her the next-in-line candidate for the role.
It is the second time this term that council has had to appoint a new council member following a passing.
In 2023, council went throught the appointment process for the Ward 1 – Sidney seat following the passing of councillor Terry Cassidy.
Council ultimately decided to appoint Karen Sharpe to that seat, foregoing the next-in-line candidate from the 2022 municipal election which was Allan Dewitt.
Sharpe ran for mayor unsuccessfully in the 2022 election following two terms in Sidney Ward as a councillor.
In discussing the motion, Councillor Don Kuntze put forward a motion to go forward with a by-election for the vacant seat.
There was no seconder for the motion.
After the appointee motion was put forward, Councillor Shelley Stedall explained why she was not a seconder for Councillor Kuntze’s motion despite agreeing with the idea that there should be a by-election.
“I do believe in the democracy, and I do believe that we should be having a by-election. The reason that I didn’t support it this time is because of the cost involved in having an election when we are so close to our regular elections that are coming up,” Councillor Stedall explained.
“I just wanted to make that point. I support the resolution that’s on the floor, but I just wanted to make a point that I do support Councillor Kuntze that a by-election is usually the best way that we should be doing things,”
Councillor Kuntze stood firm in his belief that there should be a by-election.
“Just last week, we had Remembrance Day, and there were several encounters in world history to defend democracy and I’m going to stand firm on that. So when the vote comes, I’d like to request a recorded vote please,” Councillor Kuntze explained.
When asked about the estimated cost to hold a by-election for the vacant seat, City Clerk Josh Machesney said that the cost for a by-election would be between $60,000 and $110,000.
In a recorded vote, the motion to appoint Leslie Roseblade to the seat was approved 11-1.
The lone no-vote came from Don Kuntze.
Roseblade was in attendance for the meeting, and spoke at the end about getting set to fill the role.
“I’d just like to say thank you for council’s support in voting for me to take over the seat. It is my honour to take over for Councillor Freeman. She and I worked together a long time, and she was an amazing councillor,” Roseblade told council.
“So thank you very much. I look forward to again hitting the ground running, and I’m hoping staff will let me know when and where I need to come to City Hall and get everything ready to go. So thank you.”
Roseblade will serve the remaining term of council through November 14, 2026.
