After about a dozen years, Sherridon has a new mayor.
Community councillor Dennis Hatch narrowly won the job in Wednesday’s municipal election.
Hatch garnered 32 votes, just two more than second-place finisher and fellow councillor Chris Matheson, who had 30 votes.
Larry Alm, the third candidate and a former councillor, finished with one vote.
Hatch will replace Mayor Nick Benyk, who had been involved in local politics for more than three decades. Benyk, who had operated Sherridon’s only general store, has said he plans to stay in the community.
Two new faces will join Sherridon council. Stanley Cook and Evelyn Bighetty each won a seat, receiving 38 and 29 votes respectively.
Two other candidates, Sheryl Matheson and Gord McLaren, each earned 25 votes, while Gary Relf got eight votes.
Two other councillors, Debi Hatch and Michelle Reimer, did not face reelection.
The Sherridon election was originally scheduled for Oct. 26. The vote was postponed a week after two election officials resigned and could not be promptly replaced.
The provincial government was called in to Sherridon earlier this year to assist council. According to a government spokesperson, the province got involved to “help resolve internal conflict amongst council members.” Council agreed to an action plan to remedy the situation.
Voter turnout in Wednesday’s election was strong with 63 votes cast in the mayoral race. According to the 2011 census, 80 people live in Sherridon.
That means 79 per cent of all Sherridon residents – not just eligible voters – went the polls, a startlingly high percentage in a municipal election.
