Minto council gains three new faces

MINTO – Three new faces will join Minto council, but the top two seats will be retained by Mayor Dave Turton and deputy mayor Jean Anderson.

Turton faced no challengers and was acclaimed as mayor for the second term in a row.

In the deputy mayor's race, incumbent Jean Anderson garnered 1,878 votes (62.7 per cent) to defeat Marté Pronk (1,119 votes or 37.3%).

“I still have a lot of work I would like to do as deputy mayor,” Anderson told the Advertiser on election night.

Particularly, she wants to strive for “better” social services for the community, with the aim that “when somebody needs help, they can go anywhere in town and people will know how to find them that help.”

Anderson thanked Minto residents for “for putting your faith in me.”

New councillors

The five successful councillor candidates elected are incumbents Judy Dirksen (1,828 votes) and Ron Elliott (1,502), and newcomers Shawn McDonald (1,713), Susan Thurston (1,497) and Patrick Raftis (1,398).

The following candidates were unsuccessful: incumbent Paul Zimmerman (1,207 votes), Jennifer Gibson (972), Debra Dennison (836), Joe Park (801), Louise How (576), Joe Andrade (434) and Mike Roesch (419).

“I’m truly honoured and humbled by the support I received from the residents of Minto,” McDonald said. “I recognize the responsibility that comes with this opportunity and take it seriously.”

Thurston was excited by the results and knows “a lot of work” is ahead of her. She says her first order of business is to improve the town’s communication.

“I’m hoping to help the community on that and certainly everything else will fall into place,” Thurston said. “Thank you for putting your trust in me, I will not abuse it.”

Raftis said the election was an “interesting” experience and becoming a councillor is an “awesome responsibility and I’m really looking forward to getting started."

He added he hopes to “push the province for a more stable and reasonable funding formula for municipalities so we can do the planning we need.”

Dirksen, who topped the polls, said she felt “relieved” on election night, as “it’s a very stressful time.”

“I’m humbled and honoured to continue to serve residents of Minto,” she said. “Everybody should be involved in their community in some way.”

Mayor Turton said he feels “wonderful” about the three new councillors, adding "they’re all very competent."

Asked about his acclamation, Turton replied, “I’ve said all along that a good election means having somebody running in every spot."