Rob Cooper has been declared the newly elected councillor for Ward 8 in Hamilton. The City of Hamilton revealed the unofficial results of the ward byelection on Monday night, just before 10 p.m. The voting took place on Monday, with advance polls open on September 15 and 21.
Cooper, a chartered professional accountant with a background in various leadership roles at esteemed organizations, was the former president of the Hamilton Mountain Progressive Conservative riding association. He emphasized his long-standing connection to the community, stating that he has lived and worked in the area for over 22 years. Cooper highlighted the pressing issues facing the community, such as potholes, public safety, escalating taxes, and the housing crisis, underscoring the need for a responsive and proactive representative.
Despite attempts to reach out to Cooper for comment, CBC Hamilton did not receive a response from him by the time of publication. The byelection was triggered by the departure of former Ward 8 councillor John Paul Danko, who was elected as a Liberal MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas in the federal election held in April. Danko had been serving the riding since 2018.
A record-breaking 26 candidates vied for the position in Ward 8, with Cooper’s main contenders including former Hamilton councillor Terry Whitehead, community advocates, a police officer, and other candidates. The unofficial results placed Whitehead in second place with 1,042 votes, followed by former Burlington councillor Barry Quinn in third with 917 votes, and entrepreneur Lohifa Pogoson-Acker in fourth with 806 votes. The voter turnout was reported at 20.85 percent.
Election workers were observed counting votes by scrutineers at the Westmount Recreation Centre in Ward 8 on Monday night. City clerk Matthew Trennum presented the preliminary vote count on a spreadsheet through a projector, noting that the official results would be released later in the week.
Ward 8, situated on Hamilton’s west central mountain, encompasses a blend of urban and suburban areas and is home to Mohawk College. The majority of residents are employed in sales, service, and trade occupations. In 2020, the average total household income in Ward 8 was $103,200, slightly lower than the city-wide average of $108,700.
As of 2021, approximately 70 percent of Ward 8 residents own homes, while around 30 percent rent. Census data from 2021 indicates that roughly 34 percent of the ward’s population are visible minorities, higher than the city’s overall percentage of 25 percent. Moreover, about 90 percent of Ward 8 residents are Canadian citizens. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 2026.
