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Elkford re-elects mayor and council

Residents of the District of Elkford welcomed back its current roster of mayor and councillors with one exception.

Residents of the District of Elkford welcomed back its current roster of mayor and councillors with one exception.

Denise Bertrand took the seat vacated by former councillor Shelly McLean, stealing a seat from the other new candidate hopeful Kris Wilde. Preliminary numbers came down to 288 for Bertrand and 283 for Wilde.

Incumbent councillors Steve Fairbairn, Mandy McGregor, Ken Wildeman, Joe Zarowny and Craig Robinson won back their seats with Wildeman claiming top spot with 438 votes.

“I was very pleased and humbled to be re-elected. I plan to try and live up to the faith that the people have put in me for the next four years,” said Wildeman.

He said he feels comfortable coming back to work with the same team that has been present since last term.

“I like how we work together,” remarked Wildeman. “We’ve done some good things and we have a good direction of what the electorate wants for us to focus on in the next term.”

Mayor Dean McKerracher was re-elected by a landslide over opponent David Jones who ran a campaign based on reducing mine pollution. McKerracher will go on to serve a fourth term as mayor.

Though McKerracher was disappointed by the 25 per cent voter turnout in Elkford, he hopes to improve communication between the public and the district this term.

“We have work to do in communicating with the community … I look forward to the next four years serving with the council. I’m very pleased and thankful that five of my councillors got back in again and I look forward to welcoming our new councillor who is excited to join the team,” said McKerracher.