The committee endorses Mariam Hamou to fill the vacancy for District 6 in London, Ontario. – London | The Canadian News

While the measure is still awaiting final city council approval, the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC) has endorsed Mariam Hamou to fill the vacancy in District 6 in London, Ontario.

The human rights activist and political defender defeated 20 other contenders in three rounds of voting during an SPPC meeting on Monday.

There was little debate Monday about who should replace former District 6 councilor Phil Squire, who had to step down after being appointed to a provincial court that deals with medical consent issues.

Ward 11 Coun. Stephen Turner, who lent his support to Nancy Branscombe, the former two-term councilor for District 6 who served from 2006 to 2014.

Most of the discussion centered on the process used to fill the District 6 vacancy, which differed from how the council filled District 13. That district was filled by choosing the finalist for former District 13 councilor Arielle Kayabaga in the 2018 election, John Fyfe-Millar. He was sworn in on October 27.

Turner opened the issue by reiterating his concerns about the process, telling his fellow council members, “This does not necessarily represent the interests of the neighborhood’s residents and constituents.”

“The only real way to do it is through by-elections and actually going to the people,” Turner said, sticking to the position he has held since talks began on how to fill vacancies in London’s boroughs.

“I hope we can consider, in the future, how we might want to deal with this consistently, appropriately, and transparently because I didn’t get the feeling that that existed in our first process, and that is with all due respect to Coun. Fyfe-Millar “.

Mayor Ed Holder agreed and said he hoped a consistent process would be established “appropriately.”

“I don’t think it is worthy of further debate at this point, but I think it is absolutely worth moving forward,” Holder added.

The list of contenders for District 6 narrowed rapidly during Monday’s vote. Stephen Thomson had withdrawn his name from the race before voting began.

With 15 councilors voting, an applicant needed eight votes to gain the endorsement of the SPPC.

In the first round of voting, only three names garnered support: seven votes for Hamou, six for Branscombe and one for Mike Bloxam, former councilman Squire’s runner-up in the 2018 election.

The next round of voting, which eliminated all names except Hamou and Branscombe, ended in a tie.

Councilors were given one more round of voting. If there had been another tie, the winner would have been drawn, with the backing of the SPPC for whoever the draw was.

Hoping not to see a candidate chosen that way, Ward 1 Coun. Michael van Holst told his colleagues that he would change his support for Hamou.

Hamou achieved a victory in the third round with eight votes to Branscombe’s seven.

In an appearance in London Live with Mike Stubbs Less than an hour after Monday’s vote, Hamou described the process as “a bit scathing,” adding that he was happy that the winner was not chosen by lottery.

“For democracy, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

According to Hamou’s application for the position on the city council, has lived in Hall 6 for over 30 years.

Her past political experience includes working as chief of staff for former London North Center Liberal MP Glen Pearson.

His other work includes serving in a public relations role for the Syrian Opposition Coalition in Turkey, as well as chairing and co-founding the Syrian Relief Fund, which helped settle Syrian refugees in London.

Hamou’s application adds that he currently sits on the boards of the Regional HIV / AIDS Connection, the Ontario Library Boards Association and the London Public Library, having previously chaired the latter from 2019 to 2020.

“I started big and now I’m going to gradually shrink my neighborhood,” said Hamou, speaking of his motivations for seeking municipal office.

Regarding the future of Pavilion 6, Hamou says that one of his main goals will be to build on the relationship with Western University, which is located within the pavilion.

“There was the death that happened in September, there are a lot of parties and Broughdale, and other things as well,” Hamou said.

“We would like to work together with the university to ensure that we can work together on a solution.”

The city council is expected to give final approval of SPPC’s endorsement to Hamou when it meets Tuesday afternoon.