Northern Ont. community votes to replace mayor, council

Black River-Matheson by-election results Results are in for the Black River-Matheson by-election after the province dissolved the former mayor and council with only one re-elected.

The northern Ontario town of Black River-Matheson has a new mayor and council after a byelection Monday mandated by the province.

Polls were open until 8 p.m. Monday and town officials said results should be known shortly thereafter as constituents are casting their ballots via telephone and the internet.

A total of 26 candidates were running in the byelection with only a couple of incumbents seeking re-election.

In total, seven candidates competed for the mayor’s seat.

They include Chris Riach, Dave Dyment, Linda Mercier, Albert Royer, John Mackenzie, Paul Fortin and Murray Horan.

With 728 votes, former town councillor Dyment will become the new mayor.

Black-River Matheson has six wards and there is a race in each one of them.

The only other person from the former council to return is Coun. Louise Gadoury.

The province dissolved the former council earlier this year when it refused to meet for more than 60 days.

Some of the issues that plagued the former council included a lockout of the town’s public works employees, court battles and a revolt by half of council.

In the 2022 municipal election, the mayor and all wards except for one were acclaimed.

Advance polls closed Sunday and voting resumed Monday morning at 10 a.m.