The results are in and Leslie Baird has retained her seat as mayor of Cumberland.
Baird won by a landslide with 1,138 votes, with challenger Eduardo Uranga receiving 229 votes.
Council will see one new face, as newcomer Vickey Brown led the council race with 883 votes.
Incumbents Jesse Ketler (839 votes), Gwyn Sproule (763 votes) and Sean Sullivan (602 votes) will each return to council.
The fourth incumbent, Roger Kishi, was defeated by only two votes with 600 votes. Ian McLean and Eric Krejci received 536 and 480 votes respectively.
The Cumberland results are in!
— Jolene Rudisuela (@jrudisuela) October 21, 2018
Mayor: Leslie Baird
Councillors: Vickey Brown, Jesse Anne Ketler, Gwyn Sproule and Sean Sullivan. @CVRecord
(Results unofficial until declared official by Cumberland’s chief election officer. Official results are expected by Tuesday.)
Sarah Jane Howe has been acclaimed as the village’s school trustee.
This is Baird’s third term as the Mayor of Cumberland, though this was her first election running against an opponent.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” she said. “I’ve been in local politics for 28 years. I started out as a councillor in 1990 and so it’s been very interesting because it’s constantly changing and you’re dealing with so many things at once, and I love the job.”
Uranga was disappointed with the voter turnout but says he accepts the decision of Cumberland residents.
“It’s just the way people wanted to go and lots of people didn’t show up,” he said. “I guess that’s the indication of the level of involvement… and the rest decided that Leslie is a better leader, so that’s democracy.”
Out of the 2,892 estimated eligible voters, 1,388 votes were cast – a 48 per cent voter turnout.
Sproule has been on council for 16 years and is looking forward to another term.
“There’s so many projects we’re in the middle of doing – significant ones like the wastewater treatment,” she said. “We have such a bright future and that’s why I’m looking forward to another four years.”
Kishi served two terms on council and was disappointed to have not been voted in, but is optimistic about the new council’s abilities.
“Everyone who was running is working towards the benefit of the village, and I’m disappointed, finishing fifth by two votes, but things are going to keep moving forward,” he said.
“I’m really proud of what has been accomplished in the two terms I’ve served on council. I’m hopeful that the council will carry on with some of the things that I initiated – things like the advisory committees to council.”
On the ballot, residents were also asked whether they were in favour of the village borrowing over $4 million in order to finance the construction a the wastewater treatment plant. The referendum passed overwhelmingly with 1,011 votes in favour and 316 votes opposed.
READ MORE: Cumberland approves plan for sewage treatment upgrades