The rally cry by the electorate was made clear right from the start of the 2018 municipal election. It wanted change.
But once the dust settled, and the votes were counted, change did not start at the top.
Incumbent Al McDonald, got the nod for the mayor’s seat for a third term.
The unofficial count shows McDonald with 8079 votes or 49 per cent of voter support, followed by newcomer Gary Gardiner who collected 6715 votes or 40 per cent voter support.
Gardiner arrived at City Hall to congratulate McDonald, where the two shook hands after a hard-fought campaign.
“I thought he ran a great campaign. There were times I wasn’t sure who I was running against. Gary was a gentleman and that’s what we were just talking about. There was never any animosity personally between us. I have nothing bad to say about Gary. Kudos to him his first time out,” said McDonald.
“I just said to him I hope he comes on the ballot next time because I made it very clear, I am not running again. This is my last term.”
McDonald thanked his supporters for their confidence, predicting this will be a “great council,” and that the citizens will be pleased with the results.
The new council is evenly split, with five incumbents filling the 10 council seats.
McDonald is looking forward to working with each and every one of them and wants to hit the ground running.
“Usually we got sworn in on the Monday or Tuesday. I’m going to go and talk to the clerk and we’re going to get sworn in on Saturday, and the first official meeting is going to be on Monday. So we’re going to get to work right away,” said McDonald.
“The staff are already working on the budget. I’m going to sit down with Tanya (Vrebosch) right away. I want to talk to her first. We have to change the whole procedural bylaw too so that we can get things through council.”
He says his priorities are all growth related.
“CTS Canadian Career College wants to move the complex downtown, there is demand for a new library, year-round Farmers’ Market which is really going to really help the region, an incubator that we heard in the Baylor report. Cassellholme is obviously right at the top of the list, the wharf, the police station,” listed McDonald.
“There was a lot of things I wanted to do last term, that I just couldn’t get the support around the table. With this new council, I think what I was hearing from them is, they want to see the city grow, and that’s what we heard from the citizens.”
Once again it will be a matter of getting support around the table, and having the finances to proceed.
“We have some big ticket items that we need to get through. And that’s obviously financing, trying to figure all that out, so we’re going to try and work with our staff. You’re going to see a very aggressive, ambitious growth agenda moving forward. At least I’m hopeful council will adopt it.”
McDonald was asked how he interpreted the final numbers from the election.
“I thought Gary ran a great campaign. There were times I wasn’t sure who I was running against. Gary was a gentleman and that’s what we were just talking about. There was never animosity personally between us. I have nothing bad to say about Gary, in his first time out,” said McDonald.
“I just said to him I hope he comes on the ballot next time, because I made it very clear, I am not running again. This is my last term.”
Gardiner’s response when asked if he would consider running again, was to the point.
“No. I think this was my shot. And I gave it everything I had. I’m going to let Al do his thing now. I’m not going to be at council. I think that is the right thing to do,” said Gardiner.
“But I think he was under more pressure than I was.”
Sheldon Forgette who managed to gain enough votes to become the youngest sitting Deputy Mayor in the last election, vacated his seat to run for mayor, finishing in third spot, with just 9 per cent of the vote.
“It was a very, very different election compared to the first time around. When I ran the first time I had a lot of time to campaign. This time around I had a business to run, I had my two kids, life was very different this time around. It wasn’t easy, but I did the best with what I had,” said Forgette.
“At the end of the day, I’m a champion for our city. I love this city and I’m still going to be here for it. There’s always another time. I’m still young.”
Mayoral candidate Mike Guillemette who had to drop out of the race early on for personal reasons received 199 votes, followed by Will Boissoin with 98 votes.
