John Taylor, Newmarket’s next mayor, steps into the role with a resounding mandate of support.
The unofficial results, announced online about an hour after polls closed at 8 p.m., are Taylor at 14,351 votes, with opponent Joe Wamback at 4,825 votes.
Talib Ansari who remained on the ballot despite dropping out netted 294 votes.
Flanked by his wife, Michelle, daughter Addison and son Ethan, he stood on the stage in room packed with clapping and hooting supporters at the Newmarket Legion to first thank “the people of Newmarket”.
“Thank you to the people who voted for me, (who) put their trust in me to do this job. I won’t let you down, I won’t let anyone down, we’ll be working hard from day one.”
He and his new council “have to make sure that we do everything we can, everyday, to make this town as outstanding as it possibly can be. I assure you we will be doing that.”
After acknowledging his volunteers, emotion came into his voice as he thanked his family and leaned over to kiss his wife.
Taylor, who has been regional councillor for 12 years, follows in his father’s footsteps in serving the Town of Newmarket as a politician. Tom Taylor was a councillor and served as mayor from 1997 to 2006.
“My parents are amazing people... I can’t thank them enough, not only for their help, their example, their inspiration, their support,” he said, blinking back tears. “And let me tell you something amazing, (with) close to 100 volunteers — some people in this room have put in crazy amounts of hours helping and supporting me — the number 1 person who put in the most hours in this campaign, hands down, is my father.”
As his parents joined him on stage to enthusiastic clapping, he acknowledged them as incredible mentors and teachers.
“They taught me always, or reminded me, to be humble, to never think that you are something special or that you are a big shot because you’ve just got a job like anybody else,” Taylor said. “Work hard at your job, do what you should do, try to get things done and help people. It’s not about you, it's about your family and the people in this community.“
Taylor acknowledged Wamback and all candidates for their efforts.
“It’s tough, it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of emotion and ... social media makes it very very difficult at times. My admiration and respect goes to every one of them for putting in the effort they did, for contributing to their community by entering the political dialogue and debate and trying to improve their community. A great congratulations to every single person who ran.”
Reached at his home with wife Lozanne, Wamback acknowledged his defeat was significant, but said he would not change anything about his campaign.
“I wouldn’t do anything different, I was the first candidate to register, and we personally knocked on 10,000 doors. I want to thank the voters immensely, and I’ll be forever grateful for their support.”
The measure of the defeat makes it clear his platform that included reducing taxes and stepping back on the plan to turn the Mulock Farm into an 11-acre park didn’t resonate with voters, he said.
“I wanted to give people an option, an alternative to the status quo, but I accept that the people of the community have spoken.”
Taylor invited members of the community who want to get involved to reach out to him, acknowledging there are “different voices and different opinions” and that "they are all valuable".
“I am excited, passionate and committed … and I want to do it with everybody,” he said.
“This is a special town, this is a special place, the level of engagement, the level that people get involved with passion to make the town better, to try to help their neighbours out, and try to support different organizations, charities, not-for-profits, it’s incredible.
“That’s how Newmarket has become a great community, and that’s how we’ll become even better, with all of us working together, pulling together and never stopping,” he said.
“You don’t build a great community for people, you do it with people.”
To see all the unofficial results, visit here*
*Editor's Note: The Town of Newmarket has now confirmed these results are official.
