Robert Richard says his loss in Monday night’ s mayoral by-election should serve as a warning shot to all members of the Lac La Biche County Council that the electorate is not happy and is looking for change.
Robert Richard says his loss in Monday night’ s mayoral by-election should serve as a warning shot to all members of the Lac La Biche County Council that the electorate is not happy and is looking for change.
Richard, who resigned his position as Ward 2 councillor and acting Mayor in order to run for the official mayoral position, says he heard a lot of concerns from residents while on the campaign trail.
“At the doors there was a lot of negativity out there and general discontent with council,” he said. “I bore the brunt of that.”
Richard earned 900 votes compared to political newcomer Omer Moghrabi’ s 969 in the byelection. Alex Broadbent had 314 voters, with Phylis Gauthier seeing 167 votes and Jerry Tratch getting 63. The total of 2,413 votes cast makes up about 35 per cent of what Lac La Biche County officials say is the number of eligible voters within the municipality.
And voters are expected to go back to the polls in a month as nomination day for the Ward 2 county riding takes place on July 28, with election day for the vacant council seat taking place August 25.
After the votes were tallied on election night, Richard was not saying whether he would seek to fill the seat he left to run for mayor.
“In the next couple of days I’ ll explore my options, that’ s one of them - there are others. Right now it’ s a little early,” he said.
Moghrabi will officially be named as Lac La Biche County Mayor on Friday afternoon. The official swearing in of the local businessman and well-known sporting coach has yet to be determined.
