INNISFAIL – Jim Romane has his old job back.
Romane, the former mayor who bowed out in 2013 after Brian Spiller decided to challenge him, came back four years later to decisively defeat Spiller the incumbent for the town's top elected job.
Unofficially, the results show Romane easily defeating incumbent Spiller on Election Night (Oct. 16) by earning 1,168 votes, compared to 727 collected by Spiller.
“It is surprising but great. I have lots of spare time now,” said Spiller, who added he has no specific plans. “I had planned on winning so I have no plans.”
He declined to comment further.
Romane, however, said the previous council did a good job but now the community wants a new council with different leadership at the top to confront key areas of concern.
“People are saying, ‘what is going on?' Nobody is talking about Innisfail. We've got to get back on the map,” said Romane, who added he is serious about canvassing the community for feedback on the feasibility of having a multiplex constructed. “I said I would during the campaign and I will. I will pull the community together, reach out to the community and see what their priorities are, and see where we start from here. I want the community involved 100 per cent.”
The high interest in the election inspired almost 33 per cent of the town's 5,932 eligible voters to cast a vote. The last election in 2013 attracted only 26 per cent of eligible voters.
Along with Romane for mayor, voters chose Jean Barclay, Donnie Hill, Glen Carritt to sit as newcomer councillors. All three incumbent councillors - Gavin Bates, Danny Rieberger and Doug Bos - will join them on the new council.
“I would like to just thank my voters and I look forward to the next four years,” said Bates.
Bos said he was happy with the vote but could not say what led voters to give him another four years on council.
“I don't know. You never know what people think,” said Bos. “It kind of bodes well to show what the CFI group is all about now too, doesn't it.”
The two Citizens of Innisfail (CFI) councillor candidates, Mary Flemming and Christa Lamboo, who actively and vocally challenged the past council for a great part of the year, were not elected. They finished seventh and eight in the final councillor vote counts.
“I am very disappointed, but the town has chosen. They want to give the other team – council – a try again, so that is great,” said Flemming, adding members of the CFI group will meet again. “Obviously maybe just standing up didn't count for what I thought it would for but hey, I am going to live in Innisfail and hopefully get on a few committees.”
Lamboo, however, said she was not disappointed with the election results. She said she entered the race to make a difference in the community and to throw out some new ideas on civic issues.
“I think I did that, and I am just happy we have a new council, new mayor and we can start moving forward. But disappointed? No,” said Lamboo.
Meanwhile, the public gave the highest vote total to councillor candidate Jean Barclay, who had a final tally of 1,409. The well-known seniors advocate said she was “humbled and honoured” by the result. She expected economic development and the status of the town's population to be priorities for the new council as they were underscored in the two election forums.
“They are huge priorities in the community right now. I really think we have to get to work on that and try to turn things around,” said Barclay.
Heather Whymark, the town's returning officer, said the election results will become official on Friday (Oct. 20) after the appeal process has ended.
Brian Spiller
"It is surprising but great. I have lots of spare time now."
