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New mayors for Fort Smith and Norman Wells Lyndsay Herman Northern News Services Monday, Oct 22, 2012
Unofficial results indicate Brad Brake prevailed by 80 votes over incumbent Janie Hobart in Fort Smith while Harold McGregor beat incumbent mayor Dudley Johnson by 47 votes in Norman Wells. "I am excited," Brake told News/North while celebrating at the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre with his family and friends. "I'm still processing it but it feels good. I'm looking forward to the next three years." In Norman Wells, McGregor expressed his thanks for the supporters who went to the polls to contribute their vote. "It feels really good," he said. On the top of his priority list will be to address the shortage of natural gas in the community. "Council and I have a lot of work to do on that," he said. Johnson said the voting results indicate Norman Wells' voters were looking for a lot of change in this election as every councillor elected, save one, will be new. "The community was split on that biomass decision," he said. "I don't think we did a good enough job of selling it and basically (the town) wanted change." Johnson said it's too early to tell if he'll ever run again for mayor but he is looking forward to helping out the town and its people as best as he can. "That doesn't change," he said. Cheryl Veitch, returning officer for the Town of Norman Wells, said 311 of 411 eligible voters took to the polls on Oct. 15. Nathan Watson, supervisor of surface and structures at the Norman Wells Airport, received 207 votes, the most of all the elected councillors in Norman Wells. Renee Closs followed with 182. Jesse Lepine and Philip Bailey were both elected with a difference of only one vote. Timothy Melnyk and Sherry Hodgson make up the final two members elected to council. Hobart disappointed Hobart, Fort Smith's outgoing mayor, said she was disappointed by the results but wishes the best for the new council. She said she is undecided if she'll run for office again in a future election. Fourteen candidates ran for Fort Smith's town council and eight were elected. Robert McArthur, a travel agent, recycling depot operator and a school bus driver, received the most votes with 706. Louis Sebert followed with 562 and Chris Westwell with 556. Lynn Buckley, Al Dumont, Ron Holtorf, Kevin Smith and Don Webb were also elected to town council. Voter turnout in Fort Smith was 66 per cent with 951 votes cast.
Fort Smith results:
Mayor
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