Darrell Toms wins Port Hope Ward 2 by-election

Darrell Toms was elected as Port Hope’s new Ward 2 councillor when results of the by-election were announced June 6 at town hall.

Toms received 484 votes, topping the polls ahead of former councillors Louise Ferrie-Blecher with 412 and John Bickle who had 211. Sarah Turck had 127 votes and Freyja Jorgensen 12.

There was a 32.8 per cent turnout from the eligible voters in the rural area of the municipality, which has two representatives on Port Hope council including Vicki Mink and now Toms. Chris Collins resigned in January when he was appointed as a justice of the peace.

Toms was the runner-up in the 2022 municipal election behind Collins and Mink. Council initially chose to appoint Toms to replace Collins at a committee-of-the-whole meeting in February before reversing course at its regular meeting in early March and choosing to hold a by-election instead to fill the vacant seat.