Sundre's new council has several fresh faces onboard following an election that came down to the wire. Voters throughout the day cast their ballots at the municipal office until the poll closed at 8 p.m.
Sundre's new council has several fresh faces onboard following an election that came down to the wire.
Voters throughout the day cast their ballots at the municipal office until the poll closed at 8 p.m. to select a mayor as well as six councillors, and returning officers were busy crunching the count until about 11:30 p.m., leaving residents eagerly anticipating the results.
"Gotta say I am slightly inspired by how many are paying attention and care about the results," Brenda Werk posted in a lengthy social media discussion with many residents curious to learn the outcome.
The unofficial results are as follows: Mayoral candidates — Terry Leslie, 396; Chris Vardas, 293. Council candidates — Cheri Funke, 535; Paul Isaac, 463; Richard Warnock, 454; Todd Dalke, 447; Charlene Preston, 385; Robert Wolfe, 363; Pat Toone, 358; and Sean Davis, 338. Returning officer Kathy Taylor said 694 out of roughly 1,600 eligible voters cast ballots. Only three ballots were spoiled, she said.
"I'm very humbled and pleased and proud to be able to serve for another term," said Leslie.
The main priority for the new council will be to "get our feet underneath us, come together to talk about all of the things people have raised as issues. Those should be our marching orders."
Council must endeavour to create a strategic plan in order to "start to make things happen. I'm really excited coming together as a new council — we've got a nice balance of experienced folks," he told the Round Up Monday night.
"I'm really optimistic about how we're going to be able to move forward and serve the community and start building and doing our job."
Vardas said he was pleased to see so many Sundre voters get involved.
"I'm glad everybody came out — it was a pretty good turnout," he said.
He wishes his former council colleagues and the new members all of the best, and hopes the municipality will be able to move forward towards prosperity. Whether the former councillor will run again in four years remains a question mark.
"It's a possibility," he said about eventually running again, adding that for now he plans to focus on his family and business.
The mayor-elect said he was encouraged not only by voter engagement but also by the candidates who ran.
"I don't like when people come in by acclamation," said Leslie, adding he was pleased by the number of candidates who stepped forward.
The mayor-elect also said the two forums organized by the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce and hosted at the Sundre Legion were a really good idea that gave voters an opportunity to find out more about the candidates, who were all respectful throughout the entire process.
Leslie said he is proud that people came together harmoniously without resorting to negativity and mudslinging along the campaign trail.
"It's just a testament to a strong community and strong candidates."
The elected members of council will officially be sworn in during next Monday's organizational meeting.
