Ward 4: Tammy Hwang emerges as the winner in 11-candidate race

Tammy Hwang emerged victorious in an 11-candidate race in Ward 4.

In a competitive race for the open seat and no incumbent running, the east-end ward was guaranteed a new councillor.

Hwang will replace the longtime Ward 4 veteran Sam Merulla, who retires from local politics at the end of this term.

Hwang won by 2610 votes. Eric Tuck was second in the race with 1816 votes - a margin of 794 votes. The voter turnout for the ward was 35 per cent.

Hwang has a business development background. She is known for her work with local companies, and has worked with the City of Hamilton in the economic development office.

Issues that dominated the election campaign in Ward 4 included discussions on the potential expansion of the two-lane Red Hill Valley Parkway, impacts of the upcoming LRT, and road conditions - Barton Street East, part of Ward 4, and was named the worst road in Ontario.

During the election debate last month, Tuck, who worked as an HSR transit operator for 34 years, suggested adding a high-speed train" that could be tracked up the centre of the parkway, connecting riders from Lake Ontario and across the escarpment, instead of expanding the RHVP highway.

Other hot topics for the lower city ward in the election were homelessness, encampments and housing density - discussed passionately during the Ward 4 debate.

Candidates for Ward 4 also included Maxwell Francis, Angelica Hasbon, Alex Johnstone, Cindy Kennedy, Pascale Marchand, Adam Oldfield, Robert Paris, Laura Taylor and Mary Williams.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com