Markham voters re-elected Frank Scarpitti for his fifth term as mayor.
He received 44,172 votes, besting opponent Don Hamilton, who garnered 24,469 votes, according to certified election results for the 2022 Markham Municipal Election.
Michael Chan won Hamilton’s regional and deputy mayor seat with 30,095 votes. The former Liberal provincial cabinet minister campaigned on a track record that included securing provincial funding for Markham-Stouffville Hospital’s redevelopment project and upgrades for GO Transit in Markham. He also successfully advocated for Markham to be home of York University’s new campus.
Incumbent regional councillor Jim Jones earned 26,578 votes, and Joe Li earned 25,823 votes. Alan Ho made the jump from Ward 2 councillor to regional councillor with 24,735 votes. He campaigned on ‘SMART’ priorities: safety; manage development and population growth; affordable and healthy living; reuse, reduce, recycle; and transportation anywhere, anyway, anytime.
Incumbents won six of the eight ward council seats: Keith Irish (Ward 1 with 6,095 votes), Reid McAlpine (Ward 3 with 5,007 votes), Karen Rea Ward 4 with 8,563 votes), Andrew Keyes (Ward 5 with 5,120 votes), Amanda Yeung Colucci (Ward 6 with 4,921 votes) and Isa Lee (Ward 8 with 6,549 votes).
The two new ward councillors are Ritch Lau (Ward 2 with 3,012 votes), whose campaign platform included budget management and increasing recreational and green spaces, and Juanita Nathan (Ward 7 with 5,388 votes), whose platform included an inclusive and community-based approach to community and city building.
York Region District School Board trustees are Jenny Chen (Wards 1 and 8), Ron Lynn (Wards 2 and 6), Ed Law (Wards 3 and 4) and Michael Chen (Wards 5 and 7. English Catholic Trustees at the York Catholic District School Board) are Carol Cotton (Wards 1, 2, 3 and 6) and Frank Alexander (Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8).
“Congratulations to the successful candidates of the 2022 Markham Municipal Election and to all of those who put their name forward to run for office and give back to our vibrant and diverse community,” says Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk/Returning Officer, Elections Markham.
“Thank you to all the Markham voters who had their say and exercised their democratic right to vote. As we get ready to start a new term of City Council, I also want to thank the countless members of Markham’s public service who worked tirelessly to host the municipal election and support local democracy.”
Thirty-two per cent of registered voters cast their ballot for Markham city council and local school board trustee offices. Seven per cent of registered voters cast a paper ballot, while 93 per cent cast an online ballot. Markham was the first local municipality in Canada to offer online voting in 2003 and continues to offer the country’s longest-running online voting program.
Visit ElectionsMarkham.ca/results for more information.
Photo: Markham voters re-elected Frank Scarpitti for his fifth term as mayor.