Three new councillors will join three incumbents in the Town of Tillsonburg following Monday’s municipal election.
In the mayoral race, Stephen Molnar successfully secured re-election against Mark Renaud.
The town clerk, Donna Wilson, shared unofficial results at the Marwood Lounge in the Tillsonburg Community Centre Monday night. The final confirmed results released on Tuesday showed Dave Beres leading among 12 council candidates with 3,304 votes. He was followed by Pete Luciani with 2,906 votes, Deb Gilvesy with 2,894 votes, Penny Esseltine with 2,395 votes, Chris Rosehart with 2,288 votes and Chris Parker with 1,904 votes. These six individuals will serve as the town’s municipal councillors for the next four years.
“I knocked on a lot of doors,” shared Parker, one of three first-time councillors in Tillsonburg.
Parker mentioned that ‘getting out in the public’ played a significant role in his success; he finished just ahead of Mike Holly by a mere 37 votes.
“I knocked on just under 2,500 doors throughout the campaign and I had a lot of help. Donna Kennedy and Lori Parker also helped me canvass extensively. Plus there was a lot of activity on social media. Being visible to people was key.”
Parker acknowledged that it’ll be a learning experience for new councillors when formal sessions start in December.
“It’s all new to me. I’ve interacted with council before but being on this side will be interesting. The choices we make affect everyone-not just me-so it’s crucial to make decisions that benefit our community. Keeping communication open is one of my main goals.”
Esseltine is excited about her second term but noted that campaigning felt “a little different” compared to her initial run in 2014.
“Having voting spread over ten days made things feel anti-climactic at times,” Esseltine explained. “We weren’t sure if we should keep pushing or not; I guess you should always keep going.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she added about resuming council duties after orientation and training sessions.
“Municipal politics has the closest connection to people’s lives. We handle issues like roads and recreation that affect daily life significantly. So local governance is really important-and it can be tough because it’s hard to please everyone.”
Luciani, another newcomer to Tillsonburg’s council, expressed his desire to quickly familiarize himself with ongoing issues.
“I’m planning to prepare thoroughly by reading up and ensuring I’m informed about current topics so I can hit the ground running,” he said.
Beres will be serving his eighth term on Council and remarked that this election differed from previous campaigns where he ran for deputy mayor.
“You only need to be among the top six rather than aiming for ‘first place.’” Beres credited part of his success to his ongoing experience within the community.
“The experience I’ve gained through various issues will definitely help.”
Beres stated that serving on council never feels “old.”
“I always get excited because each term brings new faces and challenges; it’s an adjustment period at first while getting acquainted with what needs attention. Coming from a multi-generational family-having grandchildren and children-I have a solid understanding of our community’s needs when we come together.”
“I’m eager for these next four years ahead as I aim to guide Tillsonburg into its future while collaborating closely with our new councillors.”
*TILLSONBURG
MAYOR
Stephen Molnar – 2,909
Mark Renaud – 1,933
COUNCILLORS (SIX)
Dave Beres – 3,304
Pete Luciani – 2,906
Deb Gilvesy – 2,894
Penny Esseltine – 2,395
Chris Rosehart – 2,288
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