Former Lanark County CAO Peter Wagland has beaten former North Elmsley Ward councillor Russell Foster to fill the vacant seat on Drummond/North Elmsley township council.
With all 10 polls and all advance vote polls reporting, Wagland had won all polls, taking 68 per cent of the vote, to Foster's 26 per cent. Ted Letts won seven per cent of the vote. In terms of real votes, Wagland also outpaced his rivals, 396 votes to Foster's 150 and Letts' 38.
It was a bittersweet night for Foster, who had hoped to regain the seat he had lost by only 40 votes back in October of 2010.
Letts was the first to concede defeat at 8:36 p.m., coming in to the DNE municipal offices to congratulate Wagland before leaving again. Foster conceded shortly after the final polls were returned around 8:45 p.m., walking across the room to concede and shake Wagland's hand.
"This has been an interesting campaign," said Wagland. "For 40 years, I was on the management side of things. Now I can be on the political side of the table...My job now is to represent the people of North Elmsley."
Foster was also allowed a chance to speak and wished the victor well.
"I have been on council a long time," said Foster. "I have run many campaigns. Peter is one of the toughest men I have come up against...I know Peter will do a good job."
Wagland will be sworn in on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 27.