Kanata South is the only upset of an incumbent in the Ottawa municipal election

Kanata South will have its first new representative since 2010 as Erin Coffin defeated Allan Hubley in the city’s only upset Monday night.

Coffin, a senior policy adviser at Health Canada, took home 49.69 per cent of the vote, compared to Hubley’s 32.49 per cent.

“I’m overwhelmed, but really happy the message I was trying to get across to people, that we deserve some new energy, and we deserve to be heard, was good. I’ve lived here since 1990. I love this community and I just want the best for it,” Coffin said.

“I’m very grateful and privileged that they trust me.”

There were 16,001 ballots cast in the west-end ward, representing a turn out of 38.83 per cent. Coffin got 7,878 votes, while Hubley took home 5,248.

It was Coffin’s second attempt to unseat the incumbent, who was first elected in 2010 and served four terms in office. Coffin took an early lead as the first round of results rolled in, and kept her lead as the election was called at the end of the night.

She said the number one issue she heard from voters was a lack of transparency and communication. They wanted someone who would listen to them, and vote in their interests, she said.

“I want the community to thrive. I want the community to be part of the solution. I want the community to help fix the problems. I want them to feel heard, and seen,” she said.

“It’s a big deal that they trust me.”

Her camp was set up at Gabriel Pizza in Kanata, where, in a sea of purple and gold balloons, she spoke to her supporters as the results were announced. As results were announced, the mood in the restaurant was high – conversation was energetic, cheers were deafening, and by the time she won, everyone was chanting her name.

John Roach, Coffin’s campaign manager, said he wasn’t surprised there was such an enthusiastic showing for his candidate of choice.

He said residents in Kanata South were ready for a change. He said Hubley had done great work – he’d been in public office for 16 years – but that residents were looking for someone new to represent them at City Hall.

Hubley had a private election party “just for supporters and the campaign team.” He did not respond to a request for comment before press time.

There were two other people to put their names forward in Kanata South this year: Megan Strazds-Esenbergs, a policy analyst with Employment and Social Development Canada, and Sam Bhalesar, who ran for the Ontario Liberal Party in Ottawa West-Nepean in 2022.

Strazds-Esenbergs took home 7.78 per cent of the vote, and Bhalesar got 9.76 per cent.

Now, Coffin says she plans to sleep for a few days, then get to work.

“We’ve got four years to get some business done,” Coffin said.

“We’re going to make Kanata South great again.”

(Please check back for updates)
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