The Hamilton police board welcomed a new member following a unique selection process involving a hat draw due to a tie in council votes. Councilor Mike Spadafora emerged as the chosen candidate over Councilor Brad Clark during the recent meeting. Expressing his support for law enforcement, Spadafora emphasized the importance of police in ensuring community safety while also highlighting his intention to explore cost-saving measures within the police budget.
On the other hand, Clark, if elected, pledged to fearlessly voice his opinions and described himself as a critical thinker with a focus on fiscal responsibility and diplomacy. The initial vote ended in a deadlock, with eight councilors backing Spadafora and seven, including the mayor, supporting Clark. A subsequent vote failed to break the tie, leading to the official city procedure of resorting to a random draw, which was humorously executed using a pencil case.
Amid applause, Spadafora accepted the position and officially took over from the outgoing Mayor Andrea Horwath, who resigned citing scheduling conflicts. Councilor Esther Pauls, another police service board member, acknowledged Horwath’s contributions and understanding of her mayoral commitments. The composition of the board has evolved significantly during this council term, with a new chair and three new members, including Spadafora.
The voting breakdown revealed the support for Spadafora from several councilors, including Maureen Wilson, Jeff Beattie, and Mark Tadeson, among others. On the other hand, Clark garnered backing from councilors like Cameron Kroetsch and Nrinder Nann. The transition in board membership reflects ongoing changes within Hamilton’s governance structures.