BREAKING NEWS - Many new faces around council tables
Voters indicate a desire for change
KINGS COUNTY - Out with the old, in with the new was the theme in several local communities Monday as voters in cities, towns and villages went to the polls to elect mayors and councillors for the next four years.
The most closely watched Kings County race was in Sussex Corner, where resignations, accusations and animosity have surfaced over the past several months. Three men, all with mayoral experience, contested the mayor’s seat. In the end, the longest serving former mayor, Eric Cunningham, earned the title of mayor (255 votes), with Acting Mayor Peter Wiggins placing second (182 votes) and former mayor Garth Long, who resigned in November, coming in third (135 votes).
The village had the highest voter turnout of local communities, with 57 per cent of eligible voters marking ballots.
The village council of five is almost completely new, with John Mahoney (419 votes), Stephen Gillies (414), Ben Whalen (412), Pat Pearson (354), and Arie Ruitenberg (252) comprising the new municipal government. The only returning veteran is Acting Deputy Mayor Ruitenberg, who just barely hung onto his seat. Coming in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively were Stephen Gilbert (245) Marjorie Hazelwood (240), and longtime councillor Deacon McLaren (123).
Mayor elect Eric Cunningham says he’s excited to get down to business.
“The village residents have decided they want a fresh start,” he said of the new council.
“I’m excited, I just feel energized by it. The top priority will be getting rid of some things which have been plaguing this council, and tying up loose ends such as the Briars subdivision. But in the meantime, that doesn’t mean we can’t explore some new ideas for the village,” he said.
He believes he gained the mayoral vote because he gave villagers an alternative.
“My integrity means everything to me,” he said. “I will do my darnedest not to let them down.”
Sussex
Long-serving Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr was acclaimed, and eight people were vying for seven council seats. All seven incumbents re-offered, and all but one regained their seats. Newcomer Elizabeth Stuart is the newest councillor, while longtime councillor Kevin Black failed in his attempt to continue on council. The results are Marc Thorne (701 votes), Stephen Campbell (655), Shelley Bradley (652), Tim Wilson (637), Gary Fulton (604), Elizabeth Stuart (540), Mark Wright (536), and Kevin Black (522).
The answer to the town’s plebiscite question “Are you in favour of the newly elected town council pursuing the possibility of amalgamating the Town of Sussex and the Village of Sussex Corner to form a new municipality during its mandate from May 2008 to May 2012?” was decisively answered, to no one’s surprise, with a resounding yes. The results were 690 Yes votes to 109 No votes.
Whether the plebiscite result will go anywhere is largely up to Sussex Corner’s new council. The old council refused to add a similar question to their ballot.
Voter turnout in Sussex was the lowest among local communities, with just under 30 per cent of voters participating.
Like Sussex, the three communities of Norton, Hampton and Petitcodiac saw races for council positions while the mayorality was by acclamation.
Norton
In Norton, incumbent Ann-Marie Snyder garnered the most votes (299) to return as a village councillor. Fellow incumbents Glenn Kerr (279) and Harold Keith (232) also returned. Candidate Theresa Teakles (254) earned a place on council but Dan Clark (176) did not. The same faces as before, plus Teakles, will join acclaimed mayor Wendy Alcorn.
Voter turnout in Norton was 38 per cent.
Hampton
The lone incumbent in the Hampton race, Dwight Bond, earned the most votes (848). Robert Doucet (718), Peter Behr (696) and Clara Ann Lights (687) are the new faces on Hampton council.
Shut out from the top half of the vote tally were former councillor Don Smith (596), Stephen Langille (397), Adam Reid (358) and Roy Marchand (323). Bond, Doucet, Behr and Lights will work with Kenneth Chorley, the new mayor. Mayor Jim Hovey did not reoffer.
Voter turnout in Hampton stood at 46 per cent.
Petitcodiac
In Petitcodiac, incumbent councillor Jerry Gogan garnered the most support (454 votes). Fellow incumbents John Lewis (402) and Gerald Robinson (328) will work alongside new councillors John Keirstead (424) and Gary Barbour (334).
Incumbent John Robert McGrath (298) and candidates Robert McCully (180) and Dick Lamb (133) didn't make the cut. The five men will share the council table with acclaimed mayor Peter Saunders.
Voter turnout in Petitcodiac was a very respectable 53 per cent.
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I am sorry for the Corner! With any luck, the Provincial and Federal Governments will keep an eye on you and your Municipality. Mr. Cunninghams Biker Mugshot was a good Sight towards your future growths, or should I say, on keeping things Unchanged under his quote of 'Owning the Corner'.....
The should be a mandatory Skills Testing Test to ensure Candidates have an Educated understanding of Municipalities with respect to the needs of ALL the Commmunity.
It's only for four years, I predict the higher governments will step in and Prevent another disaster replay. Until then, Sussex will continue, as always, to address all your concerns.... your rebellions will be dealt properly with your rebellious leader, Cunningham!
Though I don't live in the area any more,I have known Eric most of my adult life and for this comment to come out,sombody didn't get what they wanted(whawha).Mr.Cunningham was mayor before and he was not defeated,he stepped down for his own reasons or my guess is he would have still been mayor.
I think it is great that his passion is back and the community will see it along with the integrety he showed before and drive he has for Sussex Corner and the people who live there.
Congrats Mr. Mayor
previous council - lack of respect for voters, too much ego, out and out stupidity, no insight into issues that matter.
new council - fresh perspectives, no baggage.
1. The citizens either voted for mr. Cunningham, or against both Mr. Long and Mr. Wiggins, either way, the voters got what they wanted and who are we to question that?
2. If the town and its council and citizens would wholly concentrate on the business at hand and not feel they need to be the great protector of the poor little people of Sussex Corner, maybe just maybe the antimosity that seems to worsened over the years could possibly subside a bit.
Someone who pays taxes to neither at the moment.