Sean Devine will fill Knoxdale-Merivale's seat at the council table

Sean Devineearned the most votes to becomecouncillor of Knoxdale-Merivale on Monday night.

After serving three terms on council the last as chair of the board of health outgoing councillor Keith Eglidecided it was time to move on.

Seven people ran to replace him: communications strategist Joseph Ben-Ami;real estate agent James Dean, who finished second in 2018; Devine, a playwright and community activist;graphics workerMyles Egli(yes, he's Keith's brother);Peter Anthony Weber;bike mechanic Peter Westaway;and business advocate Michael Wood.

Devine's priorities included better roads, sewers andtransit, andstrengthening the electricalgrid.

Following his win Monday night, Devine said he hopes to be an "honest communicator" for his constituents.

"If there could be some kind of accountability andtransparency that I could help provide, so that hopefullyresidents across the city, especially in my ward, can feel that they can trust me ...that would be an accomplishment unto itself," he said.

Devine said he's "grown tired of how dysfunctional council was" over the last term.

"I know that I can be part of a different kind of culture at council," he said. "I really just want us all to start in a spirit of collegiality and collaboration."

Dean did not respond to CBC's survey of council candidates, but his website listed priorities included fixing roads, tackling debt, keeping taxes low, and getting LRT back on track.

Myles Egli's priorities included pausing Stage 3 of the LRT expansion until he sees how Stage 2 goes, affordable housing,and a formal emergency preparedness plan.

Ward at a glance

Projected population 2022:42,940

Projected population 2026:43,303