As the clock struck 8 p.m. on Monday evening and the polling stations across Niagara-on-the-Lake began to close, dozens of residents — and a few candidates — made their way inside the main auditorium of the NOTL Community Centre, to watch their political future take shape.
Inside the auditorium, everyone gathered in front of a large screen set up at the front, where the results would be shared live as they rolled in.
About an hour and 15 minutes later, they would find out that Vaughn Goettler would become Niagara-on-the-Lake’s new lord mayor, alongside Gary Burroughs as deputy lord mayor and councillors-elect Sandra O’Connor, Weston Miller, Andrew Niven, Steve McGuinness and Tim Balasiuk.
Delay result of lengthy counting process: Town of NOTL
After the polls closed at 8 p.m., half an hour elapsed before the numbers began to show up on the big screen.
The Town of NOTL’s spokesperson, Quinton Ascah, told The Lake Report this was because election staff were working to collect, verify and post the results.
A few factors influenced their speed: voters who were already in line when the polls closed at 8 p.m. were still entitled to cast their ballots; after voting is done, each location has to balance and reconcile the results; then, a representative from each centre has to transport the tabulator to town hall, where the results are process by the election technology provider, Neuvote.
“This process takes time, particularly given the geographic distance between polling locations across Niagara-on-the-Lake. Rather than waiting for all results to be received, staff worked to make results available progressively as they were processed and verified,” he said.
He said the first results were posted after 8:30 p.m., with six updates afterwards, until the final results were posted at 9:15 p.m.
Current council reflects on their term, numbers roll in
Leading up to the results, Burroughs was nervous, he said.
“The next four years are going to be incredibly important and challenging, so I’m hoping there’ll be a terrific team for our town,” he said.
“If it goes the way I want, then I’m very positive. But if it doesn’t, not so much.”
Sandra O’Connor said she was feeling both anxious and excited.
“I think that if things go the way I hope, we could accomplish so many good things in the future,” she said.
“Like I say in my campaign, I want to build a brighter future together with the residents.”
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa was also at the community centre as the results came in, before heading to Corks Wine Bar & Eatery on Queen Street after 9 p.m., where Erwin Wiens’ election party was held.
Watching the large screen in the auditorium intently, he reflected on his time in office.
“It’s been a great four years,” he said. “We have a lot of positive things going on in our community. We’re very blessed and lucky.”
“We have a lot of good things going on, no matter who gets elected.”
The final countdown begins
With online voting and advance poll results, the numbers added up quickly.
Resident Forrest Miller tracked the results on the screen as, at 9:13 p.m., nine of 11 polls reported a lead for Goettler in the mayoral race.
Miller said there were a few surprises.
“There was a lot of hype about splitting votes, especially for the mayor. That doesn’t look like it — Vaughn’s out quite a bit in front,” he said. “That may not have even been an issue.”
“Everyone wanted the breaks on development, just thought it was too much too quick,” Miller said. “I think they’re getting the message.”
Around 9:15 p.m., Terry Mactaggart said the results were looking “so far, so good.”
“I think it’s leaning toward where it needs to go,” he said.
Then, just moments later, with the closing of all 11 polls, the room seemed to reach a consensus: Goettler would become the next lord mayor, with Burroughs as deputy lord mayor.
Thus, the celebrations began: candidates turned to each other to exchange congratulations and hugs.
“It’s, as much as one can say, a dream team,” Mactaggart said.
New deputy lord mayor looks ahead with optimism
Burroughs said he was excited to meet with the new lord mayor in the coming days.
“I like his approach, I like what he’s been saying, and I think we have a terrific team going forward,” he said.
Elsewhere in Old Town, at Richard and Marie James’ home in Chautauqua, councillor-elect Weston Miller, head of the Chautauqua Residents Association, celebrated with family and friends.
“I’m so thrilled to see Gary Burroughs as deputy lord mayor and Sandra O’Connor right behind him,” Miller said. “To be in third place with two councils of that calibre is pretty special for me.”
“Gary Burroughs, to me, is an icon and an institution in town. He was lord mayor for most of my childhood.”
Amid the celebrations, Miller’s friends and campaign team serenaded him with a personalized cover of “Theme From New York, New York.”
Campaign manager Arlyn Levy organized the performance.
“He loves the 30s and 40s, he loves Sinatra. He’s a young man with an old soul,” she said.
Miller thanked the team members who dedicated their time to his campaign.
“As far as I’m concerned, none of this would have been possible without them,” he said.
