Eric Benoit and Michel Guy Brabant are officially members of Greater Sudbury city council.
Both newcomers were officially sworn in at the start of Tuesday’s meeting, with Benoit taking over Ward 2 and Brabant taking over Ward 3.
“We are looking forward to working with you as we advance the City of Greater Sudbury’s agenda of growth and prosperity for all residents,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre said during the meeting.
“I wish you much success in your new roles as councillors.”
Their swearing in and the passing of an associated bylaw made official city council’s March 8 decision to appoint them to their respective roles.
Benoit fills the chair in council chambers vacated by the death of Michael Vagnini, while Brabant takes over Ward 3 following the death of Gerry Montpellier.
“I have big shoes to fill and look forward to helping our community going forward,” Benoit said on social media following Tuesday’s meeting.
Both newcomers were runner-up candidates in the 2022 civic election, during which both Ward 2 and Ward 3 were two-candidate races.
In the 2022 election, Benoit received 1,814 votes to Vagnini’s 2,830, and Brabant received 1,369 votes to Montpellier’s 2,373. The runner-ups’ respective share of the vote was 39 per cent (Benoit) and 36.6 per cent (Brabant).
Following city council’s March 8 decision to appoint them to their new roles, both Benoit and Brabant told Sudbury.com they have kept up with the city council’s goings on following the election.
Retired from a career in the military, Brabant said, “I’m too young to not do anything. I served and I want to keep serving, and this is one avenue that opened up.”
Although Benoit is much busier, between working in IT at Gateway Casinos Sudbury and raising four kids at home in Lively, he said he’s committed to finding the time to put in full-time hours with city council.
In the leadup to the 2022 election, both Benoit and Brabant submitted introductions for themselves to Sudbury.com.
Benoit committed to fostering a co-operative environment at city hall.
“Projects need to be evaluated for their long term sustainability and cost saving and long term goals need to be placed ahead of short term gains or savings,” he wrote at the time.
“Current municipal infrastructure and assets need to be evaluated to ensure they are sustainable for the future and assets that are not being used to benefit the public should be transitioned to maximize that value.”
Brabant similarly pledged to improve upon teamwork at city hall, as well as to work with all 12 wards’ interests in mind.
“I have seen tax increases with service reductions,” he wrote at the time. “Somehow, that does not sit well in anyone’s eyes. Either the services are restored or tax reduced, it only makes sense.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
