Political newcomer and local business person Paul Reutov is the unofficial winner of the Lac La Biche County mayor’s race.
In the vote tallies released just an hour after the municipal polling stations closed at 8 pm, Reutov claimed 1065 of the 3,263 votes cast.
Council
Reutov will be joined on council, according to the unofficial results, by Ward 1 incumbent councillor Darlene Beniuk, Ward 2 newcomer Kevin Pare, Ward 3 incumbent Colette Borgun, Ward 4 inclumbent Jason Stedman, Ward 5 incumbent Charlyn Moore, Ward 6 incumbent Sterling Johnson, Ward 7 incumbent Lorin Tkachuk and Ward 7 newcomer John Mondal.
Mayor numbers
Reutov’s victory was sound, with unofficial vote tallies showing him grabbing 250 votes more than runner-up Arlene Hrynyk, 295 vote more than George L’Heureux and 452 votes over outgoing Mayor Omer Moghrabi.
In the council votes, the closest race was in Ward 5 with Moore beating candidate Terry Colosimo by just 13 votes — Moore with 221 and Colosimo with 208.
The POST will have comments from Reutov, other winners on the night and some outgoing council members.
Initial numbers show a total voter turnout for council members of 3,393.
The vote tallies are considered to be unofficial until this coming Friday if there are no calls for recounts in any of the wards.
Mayors numbers:
Arlene Hrynyk at 815 votes
George L’Heureux 770 votes
Incumbent candidate Omer Moghrabi 613 votes
*With files from Rahma Dalmar