Businessman Michael Branco has been elected as a Corporation of Hamilton councillor after an extraordinary municipal election today.

Mr Branco beat the only other candidate, Mia Chambray, 60 votes to 28 and will join seven other common counsellors responsible for the administration of the City alongside Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton.

Only business ratepayers were eligible to take part in the extraordinary municipal election, which was called after the death of councillor Larry Scott last month.

Both candidates spent most of today greeting voters at the St Paul AME Church on Court Street, where the poll was held.

The result was announced just before 8.30pm, less than 30 minutes after the poll closed.

Speaking after his victory was confirmed, Mr Branco, a technology consultant who owns Celeste Ventures, said that he had enjoyed the experience.

Mr Branco had run for election in 2019, losing out to Mr Scott in that contest by five votes. He has also sat on several council committees since then — experience that he believed helped him win tonight.

He said: “Because I’ve sat on several committees I think that I’ve proved myself over the years and that’s what gave people the confidence to vote for me.”

Mr Branco said that he had learnt about the concerns of voters while out canvassing in recent weeks.

He said: “I heard a lot about vagrancy and the unsheltered, so that’s obviously something that needs to be addressed.

“There was also a lot of feedback about the concerns of small businesses and I think we need to do more to help there.”

Mr Branco will attend his first council meeting this month and is eager to get down to work.

Having just competed a doctorate in finance, he said: “I have come up to speed on the corporation budget so I’d like to see where I can help out there.”

Mr Branco praised his opponent, saying that she had been “great”.

Although disappointed not to secure a seat on the corporation, Ms Chambray said that she had enjoyed the experience and was interested in taking her fledgeling political career further.

She said: “Everybody wants to win but this has just been such an amazing experience.

“I have learnt so much and had to completely step out of my comfort zone, but everyone has been so supportive.”

Ms Chambray, who runs Cassine, a shop on Reid Street that sells environmentally friendly beauty products, said she now wanted to sit on a corporation committee to gain more experience.

Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, was at the count and applauded the two candidates.

He said: “They were both excellent and I think Michael will be a very good councillor.

Asked about the low voter turnout, he said: “I’m glad there was an election but I do wish that more of the business representatives had shown up to vote.

“It’s one of the ways we can see whether or not we’re doing a good job and complacency is not a good direction finder.”