Dudas re-elected in Orléans West-Innes

Laura Dudas gives speech to celebratory crowd, after winning about two-thirds of Orleans West-Innes votes. Photo by Kyla Silva /Postmedia

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Laura Dudas was elected as Orléans West-Innes councillor for the third time Monday night, securing about two-thirds of votes, according to unofficial results.

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“Who’s excited? I’m excited,” Dudas said to a crowd of family, friends and campaign supporters gathered at Blackburn Arms Pub in Blackburn Hamlet.

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The incumbent councillor was re-elected with about 66 per cent of the vote. Her closest challenger, David Purchase, won almost 20 per cent of votes cast.

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“You have filled my cup, you have filled my soul,” Dudas told the crowd of supporters. “I could not have done this without you.”

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Dudas was first elected in 2018, when she won with 41 per cent of the vote. In 2022, she was re-elected with more than 70 per cent of the vote.

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“I’m ecstatic,” Dudas said in an interview. “It never becomes less of a sense of excitement, no matter how many times you’re successful.”

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Laura Dudas was re-elected in Orléans West – Innes. Photo by Handout

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In her third term, Dudas said she hopes to push for more city renewal projects, such as cycling facilities along Orléans Boulevard and Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard North. She added she wants to keep property taxes affordable.

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“It’s really expensive right now, so I’m going to be absolutely respectful of every tax dollar that’s spent,” Dudas said. “Everything has to be defensible. I owe it to them.”

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Dudas’s campaign also focused on reforestation projects in three areas of Ottawa’s east end and playground renewals at seven parks.

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During her first term, from 2018 to 2022, Dudas served as a deputy mayor. Last term, she was chair of the community services committee.

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Before she was first elected in 2018, Dudas worked as a communications coordinator with the City of Ottawa. And before that, she was a journalist with the Ottawa Sun.

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Purchase, the runner up in the race for Orléans West-Innes, is a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier from Blackburn Hamlet. Jenna Jessop, a public servant from Covenant Glen, came third with about 15 per cent.

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