McEachran topples Bradley in mayor’s race; four new councillors elected Monday

Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative

Sarnians are waking up Tuesday to a new mayor for the first time in 38 years. And a woman is leading council for the first time in the city’s history.

Voters sent a strong message that they wanted change, electing Chamber of Commerce CEO Carrie McEachran, 52, by a wide margin, well ahead of long-time incumbent Mike Bradley, former councillor Bill Dennis and Scott Molson.

“I’m feeling great and I’m absolutely shocked,” said McEachran, surrounded by supporters celebrating downtown at The Gallery.

Going into election day, she said she was aware of many undecided voters and could not have predicted Monday night’s outcome after a long and often nasty campaign. 

“For me, this could have landed several different ways,” she said. “I knew I ran a good campaign, a respectful campaign, but a lot of people were sitting on the fence and I felt it was a tight race between Mike Bradley and myself.”

The unofficial results show McEachran – who is new to politics –  nearly doubled Bradley’s votes.  She received 13,828 votes; Bradley had 7,185; Dennis won 5,899, while Scott Molson had 2,207 votes.

She had nothing but praise for the service Bradley gave to the city for four decades but said Dennis’ camp made the campaign “a little rough at times.”

She said she had the flu for the first three of seven mayoral debates but pushed through it and did not miss any.  “I needed to do this and I had to be there,” she said.  “Now we are moving our city forward.”

About an hour after the polls closed, Bradley sent a note of congratulations to McEachran, conceding she had won.

“Congratulations to the new mayor-elect McEachran and council.  Sarnia Semper,” he wrote.  Bradley spent the evening with a small group at a local bar and declined any further comment.

Dennis, who has talked about becoming mayor for the last four years and has had bitter disputes with his fellow councillors, was at home election night.

When it was clear McEachran won, Dennis posted a note on his social media conceding the election didn’t go his way.  “It is none-the-less the voice of the people that has spoken,” he wrote.  “I want to congratulate mayor elect Carrie McEachran and wish her the wisdom and fortitude that will be necessary in the next four years.”

Dennis went on to thank Bradley for his decades of service and said it “has been the honour of my life” to serve the community.   He finished by saying his time on council “has come to an end,” suggesting he won’t be back.

Leading a council and city staff that works together is her number one priority, McEachran said at her victory party that attracted many of the newly-elected or re-elected councillors. Each time a winning candidate walked in, a hearty cheer went up.

“I am stunned (with the mayoral results),” said Adam Kilner, 43, who won his second term on council.   “Mike Bradley first became mayor when I was five years old.

“It’s been a privilege to work with him but I think Sarnia has been clambering in the last three or four election cycles for a mayoral candidate that really bridges a couple of gaps. The thing you’re going to find with Carrie McEachran is that she bridges both business and the social service aspects of community life.”

Kilner said he anticipates the new mayor will bring a new “appetite and new ambition” to Sarnia.

The city has turned a corner politically by choosing a new mayor, said Brian White who was re-elected for the fourth time. 

“I’m excited for the city, and that’s nothing disrespectful against anyone who has served before,” he said.  “It’s about looking forward and seeing new opportunity with new leadership and an ability to grow in a different way.”

Turnover is good, White added.  “Having change at the top is going to be very good for us optically, because new relationships start from day one with new cabinet ministers, new investors, with a whole new network of people.”

Incumbent Chrissy McRoberts topped the polls for council seats, garnering 11,930 votes, unofficially.  She will sit on city and county council, along with Kilner who received 9,939 votes; newcomer Mario Fazio with 8,784 votes and White with 8,619.

The four remaining council seats were won by incumbent Terry Burrell (8,226 votes); and three newcomers including Andrew Stokley (10,236); Lo-Anne Chan (9,617); and Dick Felton (8,632).