CORNWALL – Glen Grant is the new mayor of the City of Cornwall.
It was a runoff Thursday afternoon between Couns. Glen Grant and Justin Towndale during a special council meeting.
The nomination of Glen Grant was put forward by Coun. Elaine MacDonald and seconded by Coun. Claude McIntosh. Justin Towndale’s nomination was supported by Acting Mayor/Coun. Eric Bergeron and seconded by Dean Hollingsworth.
The final vote was 6-2. Couns. Claude McIntosh, Syd Gardiner, Carilyne Hebert, Maurice Dupelle and Todd Bennett voted for Grant. Couns. Eric Bergeron and Dean Hollingsworth voted for Towndale.
In his nomination speech, Grant says he planned to run for mayor in the 2018 municipal election but didn’t because Bernadette Clement was planning to run. If elected mayor, Grant says he would “move the agenda forward” and help “move the city forward.”
In his speech, Towndale addressed the “elephant in the room,” and says he accepts full responsibility for his code of conduct violation earlier this year. “I’m human,” Towndale said. He apologized directly to CAO Maureen Adams during the meeting.
He added that he has received all his training through the Canadian Forces and doesn’t expect to be away from the council table for an extended period of time.
Grant will be sworn in at Monday’s council meeting.