With the results of the municipal election out, the Express caught up with the incoming council (both new and incumbent) to talk about election night and what’s next.
Four incumbent councillors were re-elected, as well as two newcomers.
Cyndi Lauze, a newcomer, says she felt a little shocked, but that she feels honoured and humbled to have been chosen to serve on council. She and her husband were out collecting her signs after the voting station closed, before heading to Mayor Gerry Thiessen’s house to hear the results.
The other council newcomer, Spencer Siemens, says he feels honoured, privileged, and very excited to serve the community for the next four years. It was Siemens’ second time running for council, and in a prior interview with the Express, he said he wasn’t even sure he would try again this year, but in the end decided to try again.
READ MORE: Unofficial election results for the District of Vanderhoof
Newly elected, Siemens says he spent election night with his parents and a couple friends — and he’s eager to get to work. “I’m ready to get started … and hopefully start making some changes.”
Like Lauze, Kevin Moutray, an incumbent councillor, spent election night at Mayor Thiessen’s house. He says he’s “looking forward to getting back in the saddle and keep things moving along.”
He’s looking forward to working on the Official Community Plan, and to keeping the “livability front” moving.
Brian Frenkel, who has already served 17 years on council, was also re-elected. He says he spent election night with his wife, watching for the results on the computer. He says he’s pretty excited, and looking forward to having more diversity on council, with the election of Siemens, who, at 24, will be the youngest councillor, and Lauze, who will be the only female councillor. “I think it gives us more breadth,” adds Frenkel.
He says the next steps are getting the council sworn in and working on the budget. He adds that there were calls for better transparency during the election — something he had previously thought they were doing well — and says he would like to work to improve on that.
Another incumbent councillor, Ken Young, spent the evening of the election watching hockey with his wife and daughter. He says the results are pretty exciting. “I think it reflects that people realize we’re wanting to finish the things that we’ve started and make sure they happen, and continue with some of the momentum we’ve enjoyed over the last four years.”
He says this term, he’d like to see the skate park completed, and move forward on the issue of housing in the community.
John Murphy, also a re-elected incumbent councillor, says it’s “gratifying” to be re-elected. Housing is one of the most important issues for him in the next four years. “I’m an advocate for housing, and we got a senior housing project hopefully coming here in the next year or so. And I’d like to see more development in regard to social housing and look at ways we can attract investors into our community and build homes.”
Beyond housing though, he adds, there’s still lots to do.
newsroom@ominecaexpress.com
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