By Carl Fleming
Truro Daily News
TRURO – Colchester County Council is guaranteed at least five returnees, including mayor Bob Taylor, after next month’s municipal election.
Taylor’s bid for a second term was confirmed by acclamation this week.
He was elected as mayor in 2008 and previous to that time served as a county councilor for 11 years.
“I’m very grateful that county residents have put that much faith in me ,” said Taylor yesterday. ““There’s lots going on so it’s great that I can concentrate on county business and not have to run a campaign, but I will certainly send out an information package to residents.
One item on Taylor’s agenda is the aftermath of Monday’s flooding throughout the county.
“We have to get an accounting of all the damage and look at where we can go to get some help,” he said.
Also returning by acclamation are councilors Christine Blair (District 1), Bill Masters (District 2), Mike Cooper (District 4) and Ron Cavanaugh (District 8).
Voters will have a choice in the other seven districts, however, where there are a total of 20 candidates including four each in District 3 and District 5.
Three districts (5, 7 and 11) are guaranteed new representatives following decisions by councilors Glen Edwards, Jimmy LeFresne and Earl McKenna not to reoffer.
In total, there are 25 candidates for mayor and council positions compared to 20 in the last election four years ago.
Three local representatives on the Chignecto-Chebucto Regional School Board – Loretta (Margie) Nicholson, Keith MacKenzie and Jim Grue – were also returned by acclamation.
County residents in districts 3, 4 and 5 will have a choice, however, between incumbent Kaaren Barkhouse and Reg Pauley.
Vying for the African Nova Scotia school board seat are incumbent Shirley Robinson-Levering and Glenda Talbot-Richards.
The municipal and school board elections will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20. Unlike Truro, where residents will be voting electronically, voters can cast their ballot between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. at various polling stations.
Advance polls will be held on Thursday, Oct. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 16 between noon and 8 p.m.
Descriptions of the polling divisions are available by calling the returning office at 843-4203.
The following is a complete list of candidates. An asterick beside the name indicates an incumbent.
MAYOR
* Bob Taylor (returned by acclamation)
COUNCILLORS
District 1
* Christine Blair (returned by acclamation)
District 2
* Bill Masters (returned by acclamation)
District 3
*Gerald Buott
Hugh Matheson
Geoff Stewart
Carol Taggart
District 4
* Mike Cooper (returned by acclamation)
District 5
Lloyd Gibbs
Scott Hagell
George Thomas
David Totten
District 6
Heather Collicott
* Karen MacKenzie
District 7
Angus Bonnyman
Michael Gregory
District 8
* Ron Cavanaugh (returned by acclamation)
District 9
Rick Johnson
Doug MacInnes
* Bob White
District 10
Doug Cooke
* Tom Taggart
District 11
Eric Boutilier
J. Quinn McCarthy
Wade Parker
CHIGNECTO-CENTRAL REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD
(Note: Districts do not correspond to council districts)
District 4
* Loretta (Margie) Nicholson (returned by acclamation)
District 6
* Keith MacKenzie (returned by acclamation)
District 8
* Kaaren Barkhouse
Reg Pauley
District 9
* Jim Grue (returned by acclamation)
African Nova Scotia seat
- Shirley Robinson-Levering
Glenda Talbot-Richards
With all due respect stevieray... "not fair to the 60-70% who do not vote"... that is their problem, get off your butts and vote!