Hay River (May 03/04) - A well-known barber is the newest town councillor in Hay River.

Henry White narrowly edged former councillor Peter Maher to claim a vacant council seat in an April 26 by-election.

Henry White waits for a customer at his barber shop the day after being elected Hay River's new town councillor. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

White collected 239 votes, just two more than the 237 for Maher. Glen Rourke came in third with 116 votes.

White, 49, was surprised by the closeness of the vote, and by the fact he won at all.

"I was stunned at first," he says. "I didn't think I was going to get in."

White says he figured he was going to lose to Maher by 30 or 40 votes.

Returning officer Selena Pukanich says the ballots were counted six times, although the totals didn't change. "But we wanted to make sure no one made an error along the way."

Of 2,135 eligible voters, 592 cast a ballot -- for a turnout of 28 per cent.

Maher, who unsuccessfully ran for the mayor's job last year after three years on council, says he is disappointed with the result of the by-election.

"The biggest thing I'm disappointed in is the low voter turnout," he says.

He believes it played a role in the outcome, "but that's the democratic process."

No plan to recount

Maher says he doesn't plan to seek an official recount.

"If they counted it that many times, it doesn't matter if I count it," he says.

The by-election was called following the death earlier this year of Coun. Glenn Smart.

White, a native of Labrador who has lived in Hay River for eight years, credits his win to being well-known through his job and community involvement.

"It makes a difference when you help out in the community," he says.

The by-election was his first run for office.

The new councillor, who expects to be sworn in at tonight's council meeting, says he would like to focus on public works and improving the town's roads.

White is also looking for guidance from the public on what issues they would want him to raise on council. "That's who put me in there."