It was the first official week of work for the new mayor of Lac La Biche, as Aurel Langevin was sworn into service during a regular meeting of County council on Sept. 11.
During that first meeting, Langevin was quick to thank the residents that voted for him, and begin his work as the third mayor of Lac La Biche County since the regional municipality was created in 2007.
“I would like to thank those who voted me in, and thanks to Gail Broadbent who stepped in as interim mayor,” he said. “Council will go forward as one unit, now let’s get on with it.”
After winning a close election over Tom Lett and Ray Ewaskiw on Sept. 5, Langvein made a comment to the media, saying that he was “glad sanity prevailed” which has since caused many residents to question if he had singled out nearly half the voters as insane. But last week he attempted to clear any concern, saying that what he meant the first time was that it was “his” sanity had prevailed.
“I meant that it was my sanity that prevailed, I viewed those weeks leading up to the election as pretty insane.”
While Langevin attempted to explain his comments as a slip of the tongue, one of the men running against him in the election was providing a tongue-lashing.
"People can understand a poor loser, but a poor winner is regretful," said Lett, who admitted to be surprised and shocked by Langevin's election night comments about sanity prevailing. Losing to Langevin by just over 100 votes, Lett, who is a one-time mayor of the community as well, said the new mayor's comments can't simply be shuffled off as an oversight.
"He owes the ratepayers, candidates and fellow council members an apology," he said, adding that he hopes the new mayor will handle his duties more professionally in the future.
Langevin said he understands that many voters were not in his camp, with more voters combined casting ballots for his two competitors.
He addressed the subject of continuity regarding the more than 700 residents who didn’t vote for him in the Sept. 5 byelection by saying he is a mayor for all residents.
“I’m going to represent them just as well as every other resident in Lac La Biche County,” he said. “I’m representing the county as a whole and everyone has a right to voice their opinion.”
BROADBENT MADE DEPUTY MAYOR
During the Sept. 11 council meeting an internal vote took place with Ward 7 councilor Gail Boardbent named the official deputy mayor. Broadbent served as the interim mayor after former mayor Peter Kirylchuk resigned and Langevin stepped down to campaign for the spot.
