Ann-Marie Kungl has earned a seat at city hall.

The 16-year Barrie resident was voted in during the Ward 3 byelection Feb. 24. Kungl beat seven other contenders in the race to replace Doug Shipley, who resigned as councillor after becoming Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP in October’s federal election.

Kungl earned 542 votes, or 29.5 per cent of ballots cast. Tanya Saari finished second with 427 votes (23.2 per cent), followed by Devin Scully with 308 (16.7 per cent) and Kelly Patterson McGrath with 234 (12.7 per cent). Gerry Marshall had 176 votes (9.6 per cent), Ram Faerber earned 105 (5.7 per cent) and Peter Silveira had 31 (1.7 per cent). Stephen Ciesielski finished with 19 votes (one per cent).

The results are unofficial and Kungl will be sworn in March 2.

“You can’t take anything for granted,” she told Simcoe.com. “I’m very humbled and happy. With eight in the race, you never know the outcome.”

Kungl attributed her victory to an “amazing team” of volunteers and the many “meaningful” conversations she had with residents on the campaign trail.

“I’ve learned so much about the different neighbourhoods,” she said. “We made real connections that were genuine.”

So, what’s first on her task list? Kungl hopes to reopen discussion on the Simcoe Muskoka Opioid Strategy’s supervised drug-consumption site and Barrie Region Innovation Exchange (BRIX) woodshop proposals.

Voter turnout was 23.8 per cent.

Kungl has served as Alzheimer Society Simcoe County board chair, as an executive member of the Barrie East End Household Association and on the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka board.