Barb Desjardins will continue to serve as Esquimalt mayor after easily defeating her challenger, John Roe.
The final result was 2,919 to 1,128.
Desjardins said the first task facing council is deciding how to spend $17 million in amenity funds. The money, the McLoughlin Amenity Fund, is coming from the Capital Regional District as compensation to the municipality for taking a regional sewage treatment plant, now under construction. Public safety, waterfront parks and recreation facilities have already been identified as spending areas.
“We’ve got to make some quick decisions on that,” said Desjardins in an interview after her victory was announced.
The municipality’s budget in 2018 was $42 million, with 34 per cent of its revenue supplied by the federal government for CFB Esquimalt.
Desjardins said during her campaign that the amenity money had to be used within five years and she had no intention of returning any of it to the CRD.
Incumbents Tim Morrison, Meagan Brame and Lynda Hundleby were all re-elected, to be joined by newcomers Jacob Helliwell, Jane Vermeulen and Ken Armour.
“It’s exciting we have a great group of people coming on council,” said Desjardins.
