The City of Brantford will hold a recount for the Mayoral race from the municipal election, which was held on October 24, 2022.
On October 25, 2022 the City of Brantford City Clerk and Returning Officer declared the official results for the municipal election. As per the final count, Mayor Kevin Davis was re-elected to a second term with 9,220 votes, narrowly defeating runner-up Dave Wrobel by only 208 votes.
Shortly thereafter, Wrobel filed an application with the court, naming the City as a defendant, requesting the court order a hand recount of the votes and seeking a declaration as to the validity of the election.
In order to avoid a lengthy and expensive tax funded legal process, a resolution has been achieved by both parties that has now been confirmed by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
On April 12, 2023, the Court confirmed the agreement pursuant to subsection 60(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, detailing that the recount of certain ballots cast in the municipal election held in the City of Brantford on October 24, 2022 for the Office of Mayor be conducted by the Office of the Clerk of the City, by means of a manual recount of the ballots cast in person on October 24, 2022.
The recount must take place within 30 days of the Court’s confirmation of the agreement by both parties. Consistent with the Municipal Elections Act, the City’s Clerks department will set the date of the recount (to take place before May 12, 2023), and oversee all aspects of the recount process to ensure that it is facilitated in accordance with provincial legislative requirements.
The City has full confidence that a free and fair election was conducted in October 2022 and that the recount will yield the same results.
Additional details regarding the recount process will be shared once the date is confirmed.
