WEYBURN - “The work starts now.”
Newly-elected mayor Jeff Richards stated this after learning the results of the City of Weyburn’s municipal election.
The final vote tallies showed Richards defeated incumbent Marcel Roy 1,755 to 855, with 21 votes for Bruce Croft.
These numbers include the advance polls, mail-in ballots and special polls.
For council, Kellie Sidloski had the most votes with 2,052, including 705 in the advance poll, followed by Todd Bedore (1,861), Larry Heggs (1,846), Laura Morrissette (1,808), Ryan Janke (1,783), and John Corrigan (1,574), with Dana Pretzer (1,125) and Lorrie Wiberg (1,056).
A total of 2,693 ballots were cast in this election, so with 8,264 eligible voters, there was a 32.6 per cent voter turnout.
“I’m very excited, and I’m gratified to have people who have put their foot forward to run in this election,” said Richards.
He added he is very grateful to out-going mayor Marcel Roy. “He was the first call I made, and I thanked him for working with a good campaign. We were very fortunate to have good people to run the city,” said Richards, noting he had a conversation with Marcel at the start of the campaign, and they agreed to run a good, positive campaign for the citizens of Weyburn.
Looking ahead, Richards said the first Number 1 job for the new council will be to put together the budget for 2025, and get council members onto the various committees and boards of the city.
“The campaign was one thing, but the work starts now. I’ve talked to all the council members, and they agree. We’re here to work,” said Richards.
The good numbers of voters meant people were engaged in this election, and that is a good thing for the city, he said.
For his part, Roy was accepting of the vote results.
“The people wanted a change. Running for a third term is always tough,” he said, noting he will help Richards in the transition to having a new mayor in the chair.
“Reflecting back over the past eight years I was there, we want the new council to come in and work together. There was a huge change in the provincial election, and we’ll see what new opportunities there will be as things change,” said Roy. “There’s always movement in politics. It was a good campaign.”
Larry Heggs is back for a full term, after he first got on council via a byelection, and he said he’s satisfied with the results.
“I certainly look forward to working together with the new council,” he said, adding he was happy with how his campaign went, and making sure people were encouraged to get out and vote.
New councillor Kellie Sidloski was a little bit surprised that she ended up with the most votes of anyone.
“I’m looking so forward to getting going, and getting up to speed and getting right in there,” she said.
Sidloski had started her campaign early by making a point of sitting down with key people in the community, including current and past members of council, to pick their brains on what they thought the top issues were.
“I think I learned an awful lot to approach it that way. It was nice to sit down and get to know people, and hear further in-depth about how they’re feeling. I think it was a fantastic way to get to know people,” she said.
Knowing that the budget will be on the agenda for the new council, she said that might’ve been intimidating, but there are seasoned experienced councillors who are also part of the team, and they will help her and the other new councillors learn what they have to do.
The first meeting for the new council will be on Monday, Nov. 25 in the council chambers. Meantime, mayor-elect Richards indicated he will be in City Hall on Thursday morning to meet with administration and get the ball rolling on the new council.
