Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

1 comment(s)

MINTO - History was made in the Minto election race Monday as Eric Barnett was elected mayor.

He follows a family tradition, as his mother Andrea Barnett served as mayor of Minto from 1980 to 1989.

The unofficial results showed Barnett with a total of 1,017 votes, and former mayor Donald Gould placing second with 526 votes. Of the 2,246 eligible voters, a total of 69 per cent cast ballots.

"I'd like to thank the voters for having faith in me," Barnett said. "I'd also like to congratulate all the candidates for council - they ran and put up a good fight.

"I'm overjoyed, and looking forward to getting back to council work. We hope to turn the village around," he said.

A longtime employee of NB Coal, Barnett served as deputy mayor on village council for the past seven years. He has been a member of the summer festival committee, the ice-fishing tournament committee, the Grand Lake United citizens' board and was council liaison with the fire department and different youth groups.

Barnett's priorities during the campaign were health care, including 24-7 emergency room service at the health centre and getting another ambulance for the village.

The economy, jobs, sewer expansion and road repairs are also important, Barnett said.

"I've always stood up for the citizens of Minto for health care, the miners, the Grand Lake Park and other concerns," he said. "I have one loyalty, and that's to the people of Minto."

Voters also selected from a slate of 11 candidates for the four councillor-at-large seats.

Incumbent Mike Richardson received the most votes, with an unofficial total of 1,022.

Wendy Robichaud, a teacher at Minto Memorial High School, placed second with 681 votes. Jane Wasson won a council seat with 665 votes, as did former councillor Dwain Barton with 569.

Richardson thanked the citizens of Minto for putting their trust in him.

"I will fight hard to bring Minto back to where it once was," he said.

Incumbent Mary Lambropolous placed fifth in the race for council with 510 votes.

Darla Richardson received 482 votes and Brian Robinson had 431. Remaining candidates were Janice Miscich with 359 votes, Cheryl Egerton with 307, Nelson McRae with 299 and J.T. Paul Richard with 119.