Mertens elected mayor

A mix of new, familiar and well-known faces to serve on next council

Mayor-Elect: Friends, family and volunteers joined Peter Mertens with his wife Kathleen (centre) to celebrate his election as mayor on Monday night at East & Main Bistro. Side by side with Peter are (left) Janet and Kevin Mertens and (right) Thea Bray (Peter’s sister) and her husband Don Ball.

Prince Edward County has said it wants change. Voters spoke boldly on Monday delivering a strong mandate to its new mayor, serving up big changes on council and sending a clear signal it wants a smaller council table next time around.

Peter Mertens emerged atop a crowded six-person mayoralty race in a resounding victory on Monday night—earning fully 11 per cent more votes than his nearest challenger, Sandy Latchford. Mertens never trailed in the race—from the first poll to the last he was the front-runner—meaning his appeal reached across every corner of the County.

Mertens’s message of fiscal constraint and prudent financial management resonated with many County residents growing weary of mounting tax increases each year with little to show for in the way of improved public services.

Voters were in the mood for change. Five incumbent councillors were unseated including Laverne Bailey, Ray Best, Peggy Burris, Richard Parks and John Thompson. Ten of 15 council seats will have new representatives in the next municipal government.

Several are rookies. Janice Maynard topped the polls in Ameliasburgh. Nick Nowitski was also elected joining incumbent Dianne O’Brien in representing the County’s most populous ward.

In Hillier, in what was likely the biggest upset of the night, Alec Lunn defeated Burris by a vote of 431 to 360. Two hundred and three more people voted in Hillier in 2010 than in 2006—and all of these additional electors apparently cast their vote with Lunn.

In Hallowell, Heather Campbell topped the polls with a comfortable 353-vote margin.

In Athol Jamie Forrester emerged victorious over Paul Johnson.

Barb Proctor won in South Marysburgh in her second run for council—earning more than 50 per cent of the votes in a crowded six-person race.

Several others have earned a return to council after sitting the last term out—these include Jim Dunlop in Wellington, Terry Shortt in Sophiasburgh, and Robert Quaiff in North Marysburgh.

Brian Marisett secured the second seat in Picton, nudging past Laverne Bailey by just 35 votes.

Five incumbent councillors bucked the tide of change. Bev Campbell topped the polls in Picton. Kevin Gale did the same in Sophiasburgh. O’Brien and Keith MacDonald each polled second in their respective wards but managed to hang onto their seats. Barry Turpin was also returned in Bloomfield.

Voters also expressed their displeasure with another aspect of council on Monday—its size. Nearly 81 per cent voted to restart a process to review the size of council. Voter participation, at 49.63 per cent of eligible voters—while up sharply over the 2006 election (39.44 per cent)—fell just 79 votes short of the amount needed to compel council to act upon this result. It will, however, be very difficult for the next council to ignore the clear message—that voters believe the current council is too large.

In thanking his volunteers and campaign workers Mertens said the strength of his vote indicated that voters bought into the principles of his campaign—financial prudence, reining in spending, and managed growth to help offset the rising infrastructure costs.

“I know other councillors heard what I heard these past weeks knocking on doors,” said Mertens. “People want us to spend their money more responsibly—to show respect for their hard-earned tax dollars. I am gratified that the voters of Prince Edward County have responded in such a clear way.”