How the Regional chair is chosen

From democracy to backroom deals

Step 1: General Election

Niagara voters sent 31 people to represent them at regional

council, including 12 mayors, during the municipal election.
No candidates run on a platform to become the regional
chair, a position that, if selected, would require them to give
up their council seat to a runner up.

Step 2: Backroom lobbying

Almost immediately after the election , councillors-elect and their allies

(including those outside of council) interested in becoming the chair begin
lobbying their colleagues. Promising support for projects in specific
communities, or offering the chairpersonship of key committees and boards is
a common tactic to win support as the lobbying proceeds. The voting public is
cut out of the process entirely.

Step 3: The secret ballot

At the first meeting of the new regional council, councillors cast

ballots in a secret vote to decide the chair. Nominees make their
case in a public speech to council, but their backroom promises are
not disclosed. If a chair isn't elected after one vote, run-off ballots
are cast until a winner emerges. Council decides if the details of
who voted for which nominee are ever made public.

Step 4: New chair is announced

The successful nominee may have to survive several rounds of

voting to win a majority vote of councillors to become chair. Once
elected by council, the new chair assumes the duties of leading
council meetings, representing the municipality on a variety of
fronts and setting the tone for the new council going forward.

5 Step 5: Backfilling

The person who becomes regional chair has to vacate the seat they were
elected to by the public. A runner up who did not win a seat during the election
will fill that vacancy with the consent of their local municipal council.

WHO VOTED FOR WHO

LAST TIME
Sometimes the person who becomes regional chair is someone the voting public
didn't expect, largely because as candidates, councillors studiously avoid saying
they want to vacate the seat they are running for before they win it.
That Alan Caslin became the chair in 2014 was a surprise to many, given that he
had not assumed a leadership position during his previous term of council.
Here is the list of who voted for who in the 2014 secret ballot for regional chair:

Name Voted For Relected in 2018

Sandy Annunziata - For Erie Caslin NO
Dave Augustyn - Pelham (Mayor) Hodgson NO
David Barrick - Port Colborne Caslin Didn't run
Brian Baty - Pelham Burroughs NO
Bob Bently - Grimsby (Mayor) Burroughs Didn't Run
Garry Burroughs - NOTL Burroughs Didn't Run
Frank Campion -Welland (Mayor) Caslin YES
Alan Caslin - St. Catharines Caslin NO
Henry D'Angela - Thorold D'Angela NO
Patrick Darte - NOTL (Mayor) Caslin NO
Jim Diodati -Niagara Falls (Mayor) Caslin YES
Sandra Easton- Lincoln (Mayor) Caslin YES
Bob Gale - Niagara Falls Caslin YES
Paul Grenier - Welland Caslin NO
Brian Heit - St. Catharines Hodgson YES
Bill Hodgson - Lincoln Hodgson Didn't Run
April Jeffs - Wainfleet (Mayor) Caslin Didn't Run
Doug Joyner - W. Lincoln (Mayor) Caslin NO
Ted Luciani - Thorold (Mayor) D'Angela NO
Deb McGregor - St. Catharines Burroughs NO
John Maloney - Port Colborne (Mayor) Burroughs Didn't Run
George Marshall - St. Catharines Burroughs NO
Bart Maves - Niagara Falls Caslin Didn't Run
Andy Petrowski - St. Catharines Caslin Didn't Run
Tony Quirk - Grimsby Caslin NO
Wayne Redekop - For Erie (Mayor) Burroughs YES
Tim Rigby - St. Catharines Caslin YES
Walter Sendzik - St. Catharines (Mayor) Caslin YES
Bruce Timms - St. Catharines Caslin NO
Selina Volpatti - Niagara Falls Caslin NO

CASLIN -18 (Kelly Edgar of St. Catharines filled Caslin's seat. He did not win reelection in 2018.)
Burroughs -7
Hodgson - 3
D'Angela - 2