Insinna ready to make good on campaign promises as next mayor

After knocking on more than 11,500 doors and countless steps taken, Tom Insinna and his team celebrated a successful mayoral campaign Monday night.

When Fort Erie’s municipal election results hit the town’s website, Insinna said his team cheered.

“When we found out, excuse my language, all hell broke loose. It was something to be a part of,” he said in an interview on Thursday.

Insinna, Fort Erie’s directly elected regional councillor since 2018, unseated Wayne Redekop with 52.2 per cent of the vote.

On Monday evening, Insinna and his team were gathered at The Barrel Restaurant while waiting for results.

Family, friends and campaign staff–many of whom are also family or friends–took over the restaurant. Insinna said he anticipated about 40 people showing up, but about 60 or 70 supporters turned out.

Throughout the night, his crew was keeping an eye on computer and phone screens for polls to close and to be added to the running count online. He also had a scrutineer at town hall keeping him informed.

His initial thoughts on the final unofficial results: “Wow! We did it.”

Going into election day, Insinna said he was feeling good about all he’d done and was leaving it up to the voters.

“You’re hopeful, you don’t want to say anything, but you know you did everything you can,” he said.

He’s humbled to have Fort Erie residents give him that trust, and now plans to put what he campaigned on into action.

He described it as a weight on his shoulders that reminded him of his 30-year career with the RCMP.

When he retired, it was like a weight being lifted off his shoulders. Being elected mayor, a weight has returned.

“It’s different, but it’s similar. Now you have to carry the ball, and you have to make good on what you said,” he said.

One of the first items on his agenda is a meeting with Niagara Health. He described a letter he received from the hospital system as an extended olive branch, and he wants to arrange a sit-down conversation to discuss health-care services.

Other items on his mind include preparing for February’s budget deadline and balancing the workload between leading Fort Erie and being the town’s sole representative at regional council.

But he said he’s not worried. He has plans to ensure Fort Erie has a voice at regional council without neglecting the town itself.

Ultimately, he wants Fort Erie to be the place in which people choose to live, work and play–rather it than being a town they pass through to get to Niagara Falls or Buffalo, N.Y.

“Let’s make it a place where people want to come.”

To him, that means growth alongside respect for the town’s heritage and culture.

Working with town council is something he looks forward to. Five of six councillors maintained their seats either through acclamation or re-election, people he does know well.

The lone newcomer, Daniel Turner in Ward 4, is also someone Insinna knows and feels will fit in well.

“I’m sure we will put our foot forward as a united council, as a united team.”

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