After three rounds of voting, Joseph Gowing became the newest member of Region of Waterloo council.

After 44 candidates were given five minutes Thursday to present their case to become a Kitchener representative on regional council, Gowing received the majority of the 15 votes cast for a shortlist of three candidates.

Gowing will officially take his position Friday, with onboarding leading to his first meeting Aug. 27. He takes over for Coun. Kari Williams, who died in April.

Council decided on an application process to fill her seat instead of a byelection, which the region previously said would have cost $800,000.

Gowing, from Kitchener, is a familiar name in political circles, unsuccessfully running in the past for Cambridge city council, and coming in second to Mike Harris Jr. in F

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