Wendy McLeod-Haggitt was appointed to fill the vacant seat on South Huron council at Wednesday night's special meeting.
McLeod-Haggitt was one of five candidates to present to council seeking appointment to the seat left vacant by Marc Denomme in September. A candidate in the 2022 election, McLeod-Haggitt lost her bid to get elected to a Ward 1 seat to councillors Milt Dietrich and Marissa Vaughan.
She said getting appointed now would help even out the diversity on council.
"We need a more diverse table to allow for a more diverse conversation," she said. "Another female representative sitting at the table would be a positive turn. Currently we have five males and one female: in 2023, this is not right... I put it to the current council to do better and take the steps needed to add another female council member to the table."
McLeod-Haggitt was in the running along with former mayor Maureen Cole, former councillors Wayne DeLuca and Dianne Faubert, and first-timer Jerry Elmquist.
She said she could bring a different perspective from those that had previously served.
"I'm a team player who works with others and helps them work through their problems to come to an amicable solution," said McLeod-Haggitt. "Most importantly, I am someone without attachments to previous council decisions and who can be seen as a fresh voice."
Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich and councillors Ted Oke, Milt Dietrich, and Vaughn all voted for McLeod-Haggitt to be appointed.
A by-law to officially appoint McLeod-Haggitt to council will be adopted at the November 20 meeting.
