A by-election to fill the post was officially announced on March 9. Candidates had between March 10 and March 24 to register. If more than one candidate contested the election, the vote was set to be held on April 24. Since Pilon was the only one to throw his hat in the ring, he won by default and was sworn in immediately after the registration period ended.

Pilon will serve as a term mayor until the 2025 Quebec municipal elections, where he will have to run again to continue in the position. In those two and a half years, Pilon stated that the revitalization of downtown Campbell’s Bay will be his top priority. This includes further work on the town’s two parks, the ball field and the outdoor skating rink.

Pilon also said he would work at improving the town’s sidewalks and water system, with an emphasis on maintenance in order to avoid costly replacements.

“It’s very nice to spend money, but we got to watch the taxes don’t go up,” Pilon said. “It is an older population so some residents are living on a strict budget. Every tax dollar that we can save would definitely be a plus for everybody.”

Pilon said he will be pursuing a grant to build a new fire station along with the Municipality of Litchfield, which is still a work in progress.

He also lauded the town’s current council, director general and municipal staff, saying he couldn’t ask for a better team.

“They’ll definitely help me out with this new job,” Pilon said.

Pilon, a father of three, said the reason he chose to run was that he cared a lot about his hometown, and now that his children are older and his work situation is more accommodating, he has the time to devote to the job.

He is a lifelong Campbell’s Bay resident and has been a councillor in the town for 17 years. He also served on the Campbell’s Bay Litchfield Fire Department for 20 years.

“When I first got involved, it was with the Campbell’s Bay RA Youth Council. That was many, many, many years ago,” Pilon said. “That’s where it all started off, I was maybe 15 or 16 years old and since then I’ve been doing a lot of volunteering.”

Pilon is one of the co-founders of the Pontiac Soccer Association and is currently the director of its Campbell’s Bay chapter.

As a part of his duties as Mayor of Campbell’s Bay, Pilon will join the MRC Pontiac Council of Mayors.

On the MRC front, Pilon said he supports Warden Jane Toller’s energy from the waste proposal, which the Campbell’s Bay municipal council just passed a resolution in favour of.

He also added that he was committed to being transparent with the public and media.

Pilon resigned from his position as a Campbell’s Bay councillor position one in order to run for mayor. As a result, Leen Mathyssen was similarly acclaimed as his replacement on Friday, due to her being the only person to contest the seat.

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