It’s Wednesday afternoon – four days after the municipal election, and Ali Maki is still in shock. But pleasantly so.
According to the unofficial results, the councillor elect received the most votes of all candidates for council or mayor – 591 in total. Her assessment of this result is that voters wanted to see a bit of change on council, “a new energy perhaps.”
Maki is thrilled with the make-up of the new council, as is mayor-elect Rick Berrigan.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very strong council that I think will easily be able to work together,” said Berrigan. “I look forward to meeting with them all and finding their visions and what they would like to see done, and then roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Berrigan earned 532 votes, beating out mayoral candidates Harry Danyluk with 346 votes and Jocelyn Nash with 156.
Joining Berrigan and Maki are council incumbents Steven Scott (512) and David Lepsoe (480), as well as newcomer Nancy Egely (476). Other results in the race for council include: Rod Crowe received 469 votes, Carmen Lynch – 330, Val Donnelly – 288, Don Price – 250, and Diane Overton – 215.
Chase voters turned out in slightly greater numbers in this election. Of 2,210 eligible voters, 1,041 visited the ballot box. In 2011, 963 people voted.
Berrigan suggests the increase may be due to some of the issues council faced this year, including a proposed pellet plant.
“There were definitely some controversial issues earlier on in the year and I think more people came out to voice their opinion through voting,” said Berrigan, adding he doesn’t expect the transition from councillor to mayor will be too difficult.”
“And I still stand beside my belief that we need to promote growth in the community to build a higher tax base,” he said. “That’s what I want to concentrate my next four years on, but definitely doing it in respect to the community and what the community wants.”