The votes have been counted — even at the town.
We now have a new mayor, Ralph Leriger, and a trio of neophyte town councillors to go along with three incumbents. The picture at the county is somewhat similar — three rookie councillors, plus an 18-year veteran who’s been out of the political game for a decade, will join three incumbents at the council table.
Looking at the names of the elected there’s reason for optimism in both municipalities.
Despite being a newcomer to Westlock’s political scene, Leriger is no stranger to the game, counting time on Athabasca’s town council in the mid-1990s, as well as experience on numerous boards and organizations in other northern communities.
With 1,140 votes, Leriger dominated the mayoral race, which was wide open following the retirement of three-term mayor Bruce Lennon.
His two challengers, with a combined 27 years of experience as town councillors, netted 590 votes combined. In retrospect the result isn’t necessarily shocking, but it is telling.
Voters obviously wanted a fresh take, a new voice to lead the community.
And the same can be said for how the votes were cast for council. The top three vote getters were newcomers — Curtis Snell netted 1,050, while John Shoemaker counted 1,032 and Wyatt Glebe finished with 797.
That said voters didn’t completely abandon the past, electing the only three incumbents who ran — Clem Fagnan (721), Shelia Foley (665) and David Truckey (662).
Led by a charismatic mayor, and a new town manager who’s been on the job a handful of months, this mix of new and old, experience and enthusiasm looks promising.
The story is much the same at Westlock County. We knew at least three new councillors would be added to the mix — Div. 2 was vacant, while the incumbents in Divisions 6 and 7 didn’t run. The mild shock was Charles Navratil’s loss in Div. 4 to Bud Massey — Navratil was running for a fourth term.
Of course Navratil’s loss now opens up the reeve position — a title akin to the mayor, which council will vote on today, Oct. 29.
At the end of the day voters wanted change and got it. Now it’s time for these newly elected politicians to deliver.
