Capital ward win 'a referendum on development,' Shawn Menard says

ShawnMenardwill represent Capital ward for the next four years, ousting incumbent David Chernushenko, who was running for a third term.

With 100 per cent of the polls reporting, it was a tight three-way race. Menardwon with 28.1 per cent of the vote, followed by ChristineMcAllister, who took25.2 per cent and Chernushenkowith23.4 per cent.

Menardsaluted all of his challengers for their efforts.

"It was nerve-racking all night. I think it is a testament to the other four candidates that ran here," he said. "Everybody in this ward hit doors, put up signs, talked to votersthat is very rare."

Menard said city hall pays too much attention to developers and the wealthy, and he wants to change that.

"The very first thing we need to start talking about is how to ensure policies for people, those that are less fortunate, those that don't always have a voice, are going to have a voice at city hall."

Issue will define term

The incoming councillor said the vote was a testament to the changes people want to see in the ward.

"I think this was really a referendum on development in our area," Menard told CBCRadio's Ottawa Morning Tuesday."I was offering big change."

That issue will define the coming term, hesaid.

"The official plan review is coming up this term with council ... so we are going to be organizing around that to make sure that people come first at city hall, and not just development companies."

Free transit pilot

Menard said he will continue to work toward universally free transit by pushing for a pilot project on limited routes such as Bank Street.

"We have some of the highest fares in North America with declining ridership," he said."We are putting a marker out there to say, look, free transit does exist in other cities, it can work [here]."

Despite holding different views on some issues, Menard said he's ready to work with the Mayor Jim Watson, who was elected for a third term Monday night.

"I think sometimes we have divisions on ideas and policy and that's going to continue," Menard said. "But I'm ready to work with city council and this mayor to ensure that the City of Ottawa really gets positive, progressive policy."

Chernushenko'up against a monster'

Chernushenkosaid Menardlikely benefited from recent NDPvictories in the area.

"Right from the start it was an NDP campaign," he said. "They out-organized me, and they had the means to do that."

Menardsaid his support came from across the political spectrum.

He acknowledged onCBCRadio's Ottawa Morning Tuesday that his loss had much to do with residents' dissatisfaction withthe impact developers have had on the ward.

"Any councillor in an urban ward is up against this monster," he said. "People are feeling really upset about the lack of control, the lack of say in their own neighbourhoods."

Chernushenko has been the Capital ward councillor since 2010.

The fivecandidates were:

• Jide Afolabi
• Anthony Carricato
• David Chernushenko (incumbent)
• Christine McAllister
• Shawn Menard