In the RM of Ritchot’s July 19 by-election, Chris Ewen snuck past incumbent Jackie Hunt to be elected mayor. According to preliminary results, Ewen received 742 votes to Hunt’s 650. Other challengers included Gene Whitney (413 votes) and Marianne Curtis (106 votes).
Ewen is well known in the region for owning and operating the popular Capo Coffee Lounge restaurants, with locations in Île-des-Chênes and Niverville. Ewen campaigned hard on a platform of change, citing his business experience as a key qualification.
“I really believe that to function in business, or as a municipality, you have to have teamwork,” said Ewen in an interview with The Citizen last month. “I look at it like my business. There are a bunch of people that have helped make Capo a successful brand.”
Ewen has said that the municipality could do a better job of promoting tourism and culture. He’s also concerned about the recent upswing in crime.
The hard-fought election was triggered by a series of resignations in late April, when Hunt stepped down alongside councillors Jeannot Robert and Ron Mamchuk over allegations of bullying. Robert retained his council seat by acclamation, and Mamchuk was re-elected in Ward 2 (St. Adolphe) with 224 votes. Mamchuk defeated Jeff Egan (190 votes), Robert Doiron (122 votes), and Karen Jorgenson (43 votes).
In addition to Ewen, there will be two first-time councillors at the table. Shane Pelletier emerged victorious in Ward 3 (Île-des-Chênes) and Janine Boulanger pulled out a win in Ward 4 (Grande Pointe).
Pelletier received 333 votes, edging out Larry Niebel (256 votes), incumbent Ernie Dumaine (71 votes), and Phil McDonald (50 votes). Boulanger’s 142 votes narrowly beat out former councillor Elmer Hywarren (127 votes), with incumbent Corinne Webb (78 votes) placing third.
Overall voter turnout was low, at just 39 percent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Ward 4 (31 percent) and the highest occurred in Ward 2 (51 percent). Not a single candidate, either for mayor or councillor, managed to achieve a 50 percent majority, resulting in significant vote-splitting.
The vote totals mentioned in this article are preliminary and may still shift in the coming days, but not enough to affect the results.
