It was the closest margin of victory possible, but it’s official: Anita Rainville will fill the vacant seat on Creighton town council.
Rainville earned the most votes in the town’s Oct. 17 byelection, topping fellow candidate Max Owen by just one vote – 77 to 76.
Steele Higgins finished with 21 votes, while Richard Masson earned 20 votes. Heather Strom received seven votes.
Election returning officer Paula Muench put voter turnout at about 20 per cent. In total, 204 votes were cast during the byelection. By contrast, four current town council members received more votes individually during the last municipal election than the total number of votes cast in the byelection.
The close margin of victory means that a possible recount would be considered if candidate Owen wishes for one, Muench said.
As the winner of the election, Rainville will sit and be sworn in at the next town council meeting, set for Oct. 24, barring any change in results.
Muench said the low voter turnout was likely due to the fact it was a byelection, instead of a full municipal vote.
“That would have brought more voters out,” she said.
