Over 50 per cent of eligible County of St. Paul voters turned out on Monday to cast their ballots in election, returning County of St. Paul Reeve at Large Steve Upham back to office.
Over 50 per cent of eligible County of St. Paul voters turned out on Monday to cast their ballots in election, returning County of St. Paul Reeve at Large Steve Upham back to office.
Upham will be joined by incumbents Maxine Fodness and Cliff Martin, while new councillors will be Dale Hedrick, Kevin Wirsta and Darrell Younghans. Coun. Laurent Amyotte was in by acclamation.
The election night on Monday concluded what Upham called “a very interesting campaign.&”
“I kind of expected it,&” he said, adding that at some points in the campaign, he thought he was more ahead, but at other points, he felt he may have been falling behind. However, he noted, “You never really know until the polls are closed.&”
Upham led throughout the count, finishing with 1,187 votes, compared to former councillor Glen Ockerman's count of 733 votes, with former public works superintendent Leo deMoissac collecting 628 votes, in the reeve race.
At the end of the day, Upham said he was “happy to have the County of St. Paul put their faith in me for another four-year term.&”
In Division 3, incumbent Martin edged out challenger Ray Suvak, by 18 votes, while in Division 1, Darrell Younghans won by 168 votes to Dean Smith's 139 votes. In Division 2, Kevin Wirsta gained 109 votes to Myra Bochon's 96 votes and Ron Heraid's 91 votes. In Division 4, incumbent Maxine Fodness handily held out to her seat with 340 votes to James McGonigal's 134 votes. In Division 5, Dale Hedrick would prevail with 286 votes to best Barry Sallstrom, with 223 votes, and Ric Webster, with 41 votes.
There was a decisive response to the County of St. Paul's plebiscite question as well, with 1,766 people voting against the hiring of peace officers for the purpose of bylaw enforcement, and 768 people voting for such an action.
