Bachetti takes Tecumseh mayor seat after 35-year McNamara era

Tecumseh residents cast votes on Monday night to replace their long-serving mayor and restructure the town council. The outcome ends a 35-year period of municipal leadership under Gary McNamara, shifting local governance to a new group of elected officials.

Joe Bachetti secured the mayoral position with 7,017 votes in the unofficial count. He defeated McNamara, who received 2,704 votes. Bachetti, who served as deputy mayor for the previous 12 years, had 20 years of experience on the council before his election.

McNamara first entered council in 1991. He moved to the deputy mayor role in 1998 and assumed the mayoral office in 2003. His departure marks the end of a three-decade stretch of continuous service in municipal office. The former mayor described his tenure as a proud run, noting that 31 years of contributions to the municipality justified his time in office.

Bachetti characterized the vote as a return to community welcome. He stated that the numbers represented neighbors and families. He pledged to remain accessible by answering phones and visiting sites to provide solutions to residents, regardless of their satisfaction with the answers.

The election also brought changes to the deputy mayor and council seats. Tania Jobin, a former councillor, won the deputy mayor race with 5,773 votes. She defeated Larry Morand, who received 3,558 votes. Five new councillors joined the board. Their vote totals were Darrin Drouillard with 1,370, incumbent James Dorner with 1,594, Chris Elliott with 1,213, Cheryl Hardcastle with 781, and Marisa Nabbout with 737.

McNamara plans to spend more time with his wife and four grandchildren. He expressed congratulations to Bachetti and his team for a well-run campaign. He said he remains connected to the community and hinted at future possibilities, noting there is still fuel in the tank.

All results remain unofficial until the Municipal Clerk certifies the data on Tuesday, October 27.