Heading into the final weekend of campaigning, Ward 7 may have been one of the most hotly contested seats at Barrie City Hall in the municipal election.
Controversy arose when Gary Harvey’s door-hanger urged voters in the south-end ward to do an internet search of candidate Andrew Prince’s name, which would reveal the incumbent’s past run-ins with the law.
In 2009, Prince was charged with assault, but the charge was later withdrawn and he was given an absolute discharge. Prince pleaded guilty to uttering threats and the judge ordered a peace bond.
In the end, Harvey won the south-end ward with 1,066 votes, or 46.94 per cent, compared to Prince in second place with 776 votes, or 34.17 per cent.
“With all due respect and out of respect for Andrew during this time, I prefer not to make a comment,” Harvey said when contacted Monday night by BarrieToday.
Finishing in third place was Bonnie North, with 362 votes or 15.94 per cent, and John McEachern in fourth with 67 votes or 2.95 per cent.
Prince, who was also the councillor for Ward 9 from 2006 until 2010, was the incumbent after winning a Ward 7 byelection in 2016.
Harvey is one of several new councillors for the 2018-22 term, a list which also includes Clare Riepma, Keenan Aylwin, Robert Thomson, Natalie Harris and Jim Harris.
The new council will be sworn in Dec. 1.
