Essex town councillors (centre to right) Steve Bjorkman, Larry Snively and Sherry Bondy in special session on September 11, 2017. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

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An investigation into irregularities in the 2018 municipal election has led to a charge against the mayor of Essex.

Police were investigating the alleged misuse of proxy votes during the vote. An investigation was launched in October 2018 after police received a complaint.

Lawrence Snively, 65, is charged with procuring persons to vote in a municipal election when those persons were not entitled to do so.

The charge, under the Municipal Elections Act, has not been proven in court. It is not a criminal charge.

Snively is expected to appear in court in Windsor on March 30.

BlackburnNews.com reached out to Mayor Snively Wednesday morning. He referred all questions to his lawyer, Patrick Ducharme.

The Town of Essex has released a statement saying it does not have any additional details about the investigation, and those seeking information should contact the OPP.

“In October 2018, the town requested that the OPP conduct an independent investigation into the alleged improper use of proxy forms by an elector during the municipal election,” read the statement. “The Town of Essex, and its electoral process, was not the subject of the investigation. From the beginning of the investigation, administration has cooperated fully with the OPP, and will continue to cooperate as this matter proceeds before the courts.”